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Urgent meeting request on police dispatch costs for south island municipalities

Ten South Vancouver Island mayors have ramped up their call for action, sending a joint letter to Premier David Eby, expressing deep frustration over the province’s handling of police dispatch costs.

This follows an earlier letter to Public Safety Minister Garry Begg. The mayors, including Rob Douglas of North Cowichan and Michelle Staples of Duncan, are demanding full transitional funding as the south island communities affected face a $4.9 million bill for E-Comm dispatch services starting April 2025, with costs expected to rise further in 2026.

They warn of property tax increases between 2.7 and 6 percent and are calling for fair funding, proper consultations, and a telecom levy to help offset the financial burden as the province continues its review of 911 services.

South Island communities that use the RCMP for policing previously received dispatch services through an Operational Communications Centre at the West Shore Detachment with the costs fully covered by the province and federal government.
 
The mayors say that in 2014, dispatch services for the South Island were transferred to E-Comm without consultation, transparency, or awareness of the financial repercussions for municipalities.
 
South Island municipalities only became aware of the financial impact after the transition.

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