Discussions are ongoing between Victoria and Ottawa about cost-sharing for the newly opened RCMP regional headquarters in Surrey, which the Mounties still hope will include a private bar.
The $1 billion E Division Green Timbers headquarters will include various provincial agencies and programs, ranging from Project E-Pandora, Gang Task Force and the Coordinated Forces Special Enforcement Unit to emergency planning and witness coordination.
A statement from the B.C. Justice Ministry said the province may occupy up to a third of the useable space, but “the question of what is useable space remains under discussion.”
Municipalities with RCMP contracts fear a big bill to operate the new 76,162-square-metre complex on 14.8 hectares. Burnaby estimated its share would be $1.5 million a year for 25 years. The complex, which holds 2,700 personnel, was developed as a private/public partnership with France’s Bouygues Batiment International and its Canadian facility management subsidiary ETDE.
A February 14 confidential issues note for Minister Shirley Bond, obtained via Freedom of Information, included the following suggested response if asked about negotiations: “We are in active discussions about what is reasonable under the contract and we will continue to exchange information and discuss the relevant costs with the federal ministry.”
A January 4 briefing note said Justice Ministry officials met with counterparts from the RCMP and Public Safety Canada on November 7, 2012, to discuss E Division costs. The meeting included Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender as a representative for local governments. Fassbender is running as a BC Liberal candidate in Surrey-Fleetwood. The briefing note also referred to a December 5, 2012 letter to Public Safety Canada assistant deputy minister of law enforcement Richard Wax outlining B.C.’s position on costs.
“We are optimistic that in the near future we will have clarity on the actual costs and steps moving forward,” reads the note on Bond’s talking points. “I point out that we are a tenant in the building. We do not own the building and we do not intend to pay for the capital cost of building the new HQ.”
If asked about the RCMP’s plan to include a licensed mess hall, Bond’s suggested response was: “While it’s too early to speculate on whether it would be approved, I can assure British Columbians that our government won’t be paying for this mess hall at the new RCMP headquarters.”
RCMP applied last year to City of Surrey for an 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday liquor licence with a maximum permitted capacity of 1,200.
Surrey City Council refused last June to hear the application and referred it to the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch. Bond’s briefing note said it could take up to a year for the application to be reviewed.
Bond’s briefing note indicated the proposal has been scaled back. Hours would be from noon to midnight with a proposed capacity of 535, including patio. Bond’s briefing note said primary operating hours would be 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. for RCMP employes and invited guests for social and ceremonial functions.
The briefing note said that bartenders would be able to issue taxi vouchers to “members they feel shouldn’t drive. These taxi vouchers are paid for by the mess, which is paid for through members’ dues.”
RCMP is required to post a sign on site about the application and advertise for public input in local newspapers, but that has not happened, according to the LCLB.
“Once the RCMP post the signs and place the ads, residents will have 30 days to provide input,” said a statement from LCLB to Business in Vancouver. “Once the public input process has concluded, the LCLB will review input from residents and businesses within 0.8 kilometres of the venue and make a decision on whether to approve the licence. That process will take approximately two months.”
RCMP Sgt. Rob Vermeulen was unable to provide an update on the application when contacted by BIV.
