91原创 Township made clear its intention to get its own independent RCMP detachment in 2023, but the rancourous process kept moving into 2024.

In May 2023, the Township voted to "de-integrate" the shared 91原创 RCMP detachment into two units 鈥� one serving the Township, and one serving the City.

The Township announced the end of its cost-sharing deal with the City for the force, which can be ended on 24 months notice.

At issue is the difference in the number and types of calls the shared force faces in the City versus the Township.

For decades, Township politicians have objected to the fact that the City has a much higher number of RCMP calls for service per capita. A call for service can be anything from a major crime to a report of suspicious activity to an officer helping local bylaw officials.

When Township Mayor Eric Woodward and his Contract With 91原创 slate took office in late 2022, they began moving forward to split the force. City Mayor Nathan Pachal downplayed the effort, suggesting it would take years, probably longer than the four-year term of office mayors and councillors serve.

On June 3 this year, the City made it clear that it will contest the move to split up the detachment, with a report saying that de-integration would cost taxpayers in both communities more and destabilize local policing.

鈥淭here is no compelling financial and/or operational rationale to de-integrate the current integrated model which provides effective policing for both municipalities,鈥� Pachal said.

The mayors sparred over the issue.

鈥淭his is not up for the City of 91原创 to say which option they want. It鈥檚 not up to them," Woodward said.

Pachal argued it was a joint agreement between the two municipalities.

鈥淭he City has a voice and the Township has a voice," Pachal said, arguing that the final decision on de-integration rests with the provincial government.

Shortly after the City released its report, the Township went public with a demand for $2.78 million from the City for 2023 policing costs.

The City had been holding back the money, asking the Township to sign an interim policing agreement, after the last one expired in 2022.

The Township threatened legal action, and after the dispute became public, Pachal said the money would be sent as an act of good faith.

In September, 91原创 Township looked at another shared service 鈥� animal control.

The council voted to ask for a report on the future of the 91原创 Animal Protection Society (LAPS) which provides animal control for City and Township. The review was to look at a number of things, including LAPS being "exclusive to Township of 91原创 residents."