Never a Farnsworth fan, but he has this one right.
Until our "elected" politicians finally aknowledge that there is a problem,nothing with change.
This should have been a major political issue a long time ago,but as usual,it has become an issue the government/s won't even talk about.
From their silence, we can only assume that they agree with the way things are going with policing in B.C. and in Canada in general.
That's scary!
I have also been looking for stats for other RCMP divisions across Canada to see how they are doing...or is this more of a pronounced problem with "E" Division in B.C.?
It is obvious something is wrong,and that has to change.

Back in 1994, Justice Wally Oppal concluded his exhaustive and comprehensive survey on policing in this province. The report was well received and praised by both the government of the day (which Mike Farnworth was part of) and the opposition (which Premier Campbell then led). It was praised but never truly enacted. Oppal did spend an amount of time discussing B.C.'s contract with B.C. He pointed out that there were two rules of conduct governing police in this province and cautioned the province that the Mounties had to be accountable to the province they serve, not Ottawa.
Oppal suggested that the province renegotiate key points of the RCMP contract to bring about greater accountability and civilian oversight over the RCMP. He also suggested that the province be ready and willing to walk away from the contract and revise its old provincial police force to replace the RCMP if RCMP brass and (more liklely) the federal government did not acquiese to the province's demands.
That last point is probably the reason why the Harcourt/Clark governments and later the Campbell government (a government which Wally Oppal was Attorney General from 2005-09) have been reluctant to move on. Policing is a provincial responsibility as outlined in the Constitition Act of 1982 and BNA Act of 1867, but the RCMP acre a federal agency. They are governed by the RCMP Act, paid by the federal Treasury Board, and ultimately all RCMP officers answer to the Commissioner in Ottawa, who answers to Prime Minister. Ottawa has always viewed the RCMP with a rather proprietory lens and we all know that its very hard to get the PMO to look at a problem west of the Ontario border (even if the PM's roots are in Alberta). So do you bring up this issue, have the Feds ignore you, and do nothing? Or do you do your constitional duty and revise the BCPP?
Statements from Farnworth indicate that the NDP are now willing to "walk the walk" in addition to "talking the talk." But are Heed and the Liberal government willing to reject the RCMP contract to ensure the accountability and civilian oversight the citizens of the province demand. Oppal pointed out in 1994, you might not get everything you want out of this. But B.C. might get everything it needs.

Amen Harn!

Excellent post Harn. Very informative.

Although our current PM doesn't have his roots in Western Canada... small point, but he was actually raised in Southern Ontario and only moved to Alberta as a young adult to work in the oil patch while going to school.

Clearly even if the BC liberals said they supported a unified police complaints process, or a new provicial police... ultimately we ca not trust what they say anymore, so only actions would matter at this point. Gordon supports the police state, so he will do nothing is my prediction. One only has to look at who he contracted for Olympic security, the arrangements with the Americans for unified policing emergencies, and his tendency to not like accountability for government to see how our government views things. Gordon will do nothing to enhance police accountability is the only thing I see happening with his government.

Harn: Excellent post.
The Federal government and the RCMP are
absolutely not going to allow the province
to dictate to them who is going to investigate them. Period. Farnworth can
do his political grandstanding on this issue all he wants, but the NDP would be in the same boat.They're playing politics and know they won't win, but hey, it makes good press.
"whether or not these are achievable in contract negotiations.”
They are not. Ask your MP,and get ready for
more snow.

Eagleone, thx for the feedback. Yes Harper was born and raised in Southern Ontario (and his father was a federal Grit and Trudeau supporter), Harper developed his political outlook in Alberta while attending university.
Slim2229, I feel that Farnworth is talking tough on the RCMP contract right now but I suspect you are right in your assertation if Heed and Campbell "blink" when renegotiating the contract, would a future NDP government cancel the contract or simply make up some "fuzzy-headed federalist" excuse to put up with whatever mess Campbell et-al have gotten us into?