The recent announcement that ten South Island municipalities will need to fully fund E-Comm 911 services by next April is deeply concerning.
For years, the cost-sharing model split between the provincial and federal governments helped ensure that the financial burden of 911 services was equitably distributed. Now, with this abrupt policy shift, local governments are scrambling to cover significant new expenses, which will likely result in higher property taxes for residents.
Langford, for instance, is expected to shoulder around $800,000 annually for E-Comm services, leading to an approximate 5% tax increase. Colwood anticipates a tax hike of about 2% to cover its share, estimated at more than $500,000
Sooke Mayor Maja Tait has voiced her concerns over this change, hoping for reconsideration from the province. She was shocked to learn that the plan would proceed despite municipal objections. Colwood Councillor Ian Ward also warns of the significant financial strain on smaller municipalities like his.
Adding to the frustration is the fact that the provincial and federal governments continue to fund RCMP dispatch services in other regions of B.C., making South Island communities feel unfairly targeted. The silence from the Ministry of Public Safety in response to the united appeals from affected mayors only exacerbates the issue.
As the provincial election nears, residents need to push for accountability. If the province is making financial commitments elsewhere, it should ensure that critical services like 911 dispatch are funded equitably across the board. If not reversed, this decision risks undermining local budgets and shattering public trust in the provincial government’s ability to govern fairly.
The ten South Island municipalities affected by the shift in E-Comm 911 funding are: Colwood; Ladysmith; Langford; North Cowichan; North Saanich; Sidney; Sooke; View Royal; Central; Saanich; Esquimalt – These municipalities will have to fully fund the E-Comm 911 services by April, which was previously subsidized by both provincial and federal governments.
