After looking into the option with the Department of Public Safety, city staff recommended the city take no further action on the potential switch, and receive and file a report to tat effect.
According to a report by city staff, the Department of Public Safety made it clear communities with over 15,000people simply can't switch to a municipal policing agreement. As well, the department considers the selection of policing services a local matter in which it must remain impartial.
Meanwhile, Mayor Mel Norton tells CHSJ News the overall mission to save money on city services hasn't changed---and all of the core services, including police and fire are still going to have to give a detailed account of how their budgets are being allocated and why.
Norton says the end goal of the review process will be to freeze expenditures at 2014 levels.
