It was greatly disappointing to see the editorial, "Be open about police proposals," last Friday, not because the information was irrelevant but because of its omissions. It did not provide readers with a full picture of the rigorous work undertaken by our policing and law-enforcement advisory panel.
The province granted the Township of Esquimalt the authority to form an advisory panel that would seek out information and make a recommendation as to the best police services for the township. The issues have been and will continue to be cost, governance and service delivery.
The process was thorough and included several opportunities for public input on how policing services should be delivered to the township. The panel provided its recommendation to the province in June of 2011, expecting that a decision would be given in a timely manner.
The township adhered to the rules provided by the province and to the promise of confidentiality given to the police services proponents. Meetings were held in camera, that is, behind closed doors. The rules for in camera are clear: pertaining to land, legal and labour issues.
This process clearly fell into these categories. Esquimalt's legal obligations for ensuring a bona fide process that would withstand legal action by any party has created significant challenges to both past and present councils. Elected representatives and staff have maintained the township's responsibilities regarding confidentiality, despite significant pressure and criticism.
The responsibility of the province to respond in a timely manner, and to respond in the affirmative to the recommendation, is really the problem, not how the Esquimalt panel or council conducted its process.
If the province was not going to allow one of the proponents to provide policing services, it had the opportunity to stop this process and employ mediator Jean Greatbach a full one to two years earlier and, in my opinion, had the duty to do so.
Let us be completely clear: Council and the panel will be very pleased to have all impediments out of the way for the reports to be released.
This will allow residents to see what policing options were proposed and at what costs to the community. Residents will see how their say in their policing was at the forefront of this process. This is about getting the best policing service at the best cost for Esquimalt. It always has been and will continue to be within any future process.
Barb Desjardins is mayor of the Township of Esquimalt.
