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June
19th, 2002
Wall Says City Taxpayers Should Not Have to Pay
for G8 Policing
Swift
Current MLA Brad Wall has written to the provincial Justice
Minister, Hon. Chris Axworthy, and contacted Cypress
Hills-Grasslands MP David Anderson to ensure taxpayers in Swift
Current are not on the hook for any of the costs associated with
police resources needed for the G8 Summit being held in Alberta
later this month. Wall
indicated that he has received the support of the local Member of
Parliament, Mr. Anderson, in this regard.
“We
as the Official Opposition have asked the NDP government to commit
that local municipalities will not have to pick up the tab for any
extra policing services the Province may have offered to the federal
government.” Wall
said. “We have not
yet received any unqualified commitment that local taxpayers will
not have to pay for the added overtime costs when several members of
our City RCMP detachment in Swift Current join the policing
contingent at the Summit.”
“On
two occasions last week we asked the Minister of Justice during
Question Period about this situation requesting confirmation that
Swift Current and other affected municipalities would be compensated
for any costs incurred.” Wall
added. “Initially,
the Minister indicated that the federal government would be paying.
But when we pointed out the overtime issue and the fact that
this was a direct cost of losing seven members of the Swift Current
City Detachment of the RCMP that would be borne exclusively by local
taxpayers, the Minister didn’t clarify the situation.”
“The
Minister went on to ask the Saskatchewan Party if we were opposed to
helping the federal government.
This is an incredible statement.
The Minister seems to be very generous with help when it is
the local municipal tax base and not his Department budget that is
paying for the generosity.” Wall
said.
Wall
said he is hopeful that the Province would make a commitment to
local municipalities facing increased policing costs due to the G8
Summit either through their own provincial justice department or
through a commitment they should get from the federal government.
“As
the local MLA, I feel its my job to do what I can to ensure that
municipal taxpayers are not asked to pay for additional policing
resources needed at an international summit.” Wall concluded.
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