Esquimalt mayor resigns from police board to better advocate for township

Esquimalt’s mayor has resigned from the Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board, citing what she says is a conflict of interest that’s been weighing her down for nearly two decades.

What’s best for Esquimalt isn’t always what’s best for the Victoria Police Department (VicPD), so Mayor Barb Desjardins said balancing her mandates as a board member and as mayor was challenging.

“Now is the time to step away because I need to really focus on being that voice for Esquimalt,” Desjardins told CTV News Vancouver Island.

“I can say exactly what it is that Esquimalt requires without worrying about the conflict of how I need to speak at the police board.”

Desjardins had been a board member since 2008, when she was elected mayor. Until recently, B.C. mayors were required to be on their municipality’s police board, but that’s no longer the case due to recent Police Act amendments.

Desjardins’ last day on the board was Monday.

“I’m excited for the opportunity not to be wearing two sideways hats,” she said.

VicPD serves the municipalities of Victoria and Esquimalt.

“Being the smaller community, we need to have a very strong, loud, clear voice for what our needs are,” Desjardins said.

Advocacy tied to police budget, regionalization

Desjardins’ exit precedes budget time, with VicPD expected to present its requests to the Esquimalt and Victoria municipal councils this fall.

“It’s no secret that every year Esquimalt has challenges with the budget coming forward and that is because they don’t see the community reflected in the asks,” she said.

For years, Esquimalt council has argued the price tag on policing is inflated when considering the services required by the township compared to Victoria.

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“We’ve had study after study indicate that we have sufficient policing and therefore adding new bodies — which tend to be focused for downtown Victoria — is a challenge to our budget,” Desjardins said.

“We have had a $1 million increase for the last few years just for policing. That’s a three per cent tax increase just for policing.”

Former B.C. Solicitor General Kash Heed said Esquimalt’s budget gripe dates back to his tenure, which began in 2009.

“You would not have this if you had some type of unified police service, such as a metro or regional police body,” Heed said.

Police board vice-chair Elizabeth Cull said members have met with B.C.’s public safety minister to make the case for a regionalized police force.

“It just doesn’t make sense to have so many different chiefs and police forces here in the Greater Victoria area,” Cull said. “We think we could be more effective working as one.”

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In the meantime, Desjardins and her fellow council members plan to bring an interim solution forward once incoming VicPD Chief Fiona Wilson takes charge in September. Instead of paying a set rate for policing, Esquimalt wants to contract VicPD on an as-needed basis.

Esquimalt will still be represented on board

It’s anticipated an Esquimalt councillor will take Desjardin’s place on the police board this fall.

While Desjardins said some councillors are interested in the role, they’re struggling with the fact that they won’t be compensated for their time. Elected officials are not remunerated, while other board members receive up to $8,000 annually, according to the City of Victoria website.

“You’re expected to do the same work and so remuneration should be equal to anyone else sitting at that table,” she said.

In addition to Desjardin’s spot on the 10-person board, Cull said three other positions are vacant. The board is awaiting two provincial appointees and a community representative from Victoria.