The provincial government has failed to support local health, mental health and social services and should pay its fair share rather than downloading costs to municipalities, Union of B.C. Municipalities' (UBCM) delegates voted Sept. 19.
A resolution brought to the UBCM annual general meeting by the City of Langford said the province needs to acknowledge how those issues, including policing costs, continue to challenge B.C. communities.
The province's failure to meet its commitments has “unfairly burdened local governments, straining local resources and compromising public safety, thus exacerbating social inequity through heightened property taxes," the resolution said.
Civic politicians want an increase in provincial funding and support for health care and mental health care, as well as comprehensive housing initiatives to alleviate the strain on local government resources.
Public safety needs to be enhanced, too, with the resolution stating the provincial government must demonstrate good faith by covering the heightened share of policing costs.
In addition, the province must recognize how shifting public safety costs to local governments is connected to inadequate provision of social services and health care.
800 hours in emergency rooms
Langford Coun. Keith Yacucha said local police spend 800 hours a year in emergency rooms waiting for people apprehended to be assessed and treated. He said it is not the right care people in crisis need and not a good use of police resources.
“It’s a tremendous cost and it’s complete downloading,” he said.
The resolutions committee noted the UBCM has not previously considered a resolution for increased funding and support for health care, mental health care and comprehensive housing initiatives.
It said such changes could alleviate the strain on local government resources and enhance public safety,
However, the committee noted the UBCM has endorsed numerous resolutions seeking action and funding from the province to address:
• primary case networks;
• retention of health workers
• improved resourcing and facilities for mental health and addictions services;
• improved shelter aid for elderly renters;
• multiple housing recommendations, dealing with prolific offenders, improving court capacity;
• legislative and regulatory changes to the criminal justice system to apply stricter penalties and ensure adequate incarceration of prolific criminals, as well as the consistent use of electronic monitoring when individuals are released on conditions;
• RCMP cost sharing agreements;
• adequate funding, or provincially funded police resources, be provided to the host local government in order to offset the additional operational impacts that certain provincial facilities (such as mental health and addictions centres, correctional facilities, shelters, and transitional and supportive housing) have on policing services in communities.
