NDP MP DONNELLY DEMANDS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DELIVER ON POLICING COMMITMENT

MAY 4, 2010

OTTAWA - Today in the House of Commons, NDP MP Fin Donnelly (New Westminster-Coquitlam) called on the government to deliver the 2,500 additional police officers promised by the Conservative government over four years ago.

Last month Donnelly met with representatives from the Canadian Police Association who want to see stable, long-term funding for these positions.
“It’s time this government delivered on their 2006 commitment” said Donnelly. “Police departments cannot hire, train or retain new officers without stable funding in place”.

The issue of increased policing hits close to home for Donnelly, who represents Coquitlam in the House of Commons. With one of the lowest police to population ratios in the country (1:939), the Coquitlam RCMP is being asked to do more with less. Coquitlam has 106 officers for every 100,000 citizens, compared to the national average of 193:100,000[1].

“Our local police officers put their lives on the line everyday” said Donnelly. “The least we can do is ensure that they have the resources they need – that means paying them in dollars, not political promises”.

- 30 -