Parliamentary Committee Notes: Funding for the Contract Policing Program
Proposed Response
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is seeking incremental funding from 2024-25 to 2031-32 to address growth in the Contract Policing program, enabling the continuance of program delivery.
This new funding reflects a catch-up from reference levels previously established in 2019-20, as well as projected growth requirements from 2024-25 to 2031-32, which coincides with the end of the current Police Service Agreements which are set to expire on March 31, 2032.
Financial Implications
Within these Supplementary Estimates, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is receiving $440.2 million: $360.7 million in voted authorities and $79.5 million in statutory authorities.
Background
The Contract Policing program’s baseline reference levels were last adjusted in the 2019-20 The program’s funding model allows in-year financial adjustments through an off-cycle request (“Check-In” process), if required, as a result of unforeseen events occurring during the fiscal year.
In 2020-21, in-year adjustments were not required, as expenditures decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then, the program has sought annual in-year incremental adjustments, demonstrating that expenditures have returned to pre-pandemic levels and increased, as contracting jurisdictions seek growth in their police services.
Incremental resources are requested to support the delivery of policing services, as a result of regular program growth due to inflation and increases to service levels. Costs include:
direct costs (i.e., salaries and associated operating costs);
capital costs (i.e., multi-year infrastructure and equipment plans primarily driven by fleet, real property and policing operational systems);
indirect costs such as Employee Benefit Plans and program costs for recruiting and training; and
support costs relating to accommodations, legal services, administration of the program, and enabling services.
Incremental FTEs are sought due to increased service levels for delivery of policing services, as well as enabling services and Internal Services resources to support this growth in policing services.
This does not equate to the total funding for the various Police Services Agreements.
The funding for the remaining years will be included in the RCMP’s 2025-26 Annual Reference Level Update exercise later this fall.