Moncton council confirms it will keep RCMP, votes down public consultation

Monctoncouncil on Monday ratified keeping the Codiac Regional RCMPand rejected delaying that decision to consult the public first.

The 6-5 votes came after an hour of at times tense debatethat capped apolicing review launched in 2021.

The vote tally was the same as when councillors debated the issue Feb. 26 at a committee meeting.Committee votes must be ratified at later council meetings, which led to a resumption of the debate Monday.

Coun. Daniel Bourgeois questioned why fellow council members wouldn't want to hold off on a decision while more information is gathered, including input from the public.

He moved a motion Monday that would have delayed a final decision by holding consultations. He called oncouncillors to explain their votes. Coun. Marty Kingston one of six votes bristled at the questioning.

"I'm a little taken aback that we would all get asked how to explain ourselves on a yay vote," Kingston said, suggesting Bourgeois should re-read the council code of conduct.

It was among a series of tense exchanges amongcouncillors.

Coun. Bryan Butler, one of the five votes, said he still felt council needed more information.

"If six votes vote to say, 'Hey, listen, we don't want no more information, we're satisfied with it,' that's democracy, and I'm happy with that," Butler said. "All I'm saying is, is that we have to give answers to the public."

Coun. Paulette Theriault, one of the six votes, interrupted him as he spoke. They spoke over each other as Butler called out "point of order" repeatedly.

"You know, if you're getting tired, please leave," Butler said to Theriault. "But we're here because this is a very important issue."

Mayor Dawn Arnold spoke, saying Riverview and Dieppe had already voted to stay with Codiac RCMPand were waiting for Moncton's final vote.

The mayor and councillorsTheriault, Kingston, Susan Edgett, Monique LeBlancand Dave Steeveswere the six votes to continue with the RCMP without consultations.

Deputy Mayor Shawn Crossman and councillors Bourgeois, Charles Lger, Butler and Paul Richard voted the other way.

Councillors unanimously voted to meet with RCMP leaders, the Codiac Regional Policing Authority board and councils from Dieppe and Riverview to discuss how to improve public safety and implement the policing study recommendations.

The details of when and where that meeting will take placehave yet to be determined.

The study by consulting firmPerivale + Taylor released last fall recommended improved data collection, a community feedback process on policing issues and governance improvements at the policing authority.

Policing authority chair Don Moore told reporters the board will work with the municipalities to implement the recommendations this year.

The study was launched by a council vote in 2021 to review policing services in light of rising policing costs, crime and concerns about local control.

The study estimatedstaying with the RCMPcould save$132 million over 15 years compared to launching a new municipal force.

Pat Bouchard, Atlantic director with the National Police Federation, the RCMP union, spoke at Monday's meeting and thanked councillors who voted in favour of maintaining the RCMP.