The Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade (SWRBOT) is calling on the Provincial Government to establish a standardized province-wide RCMP engagement framework to strengthen public safety, improve accountability, and better address the economic impacts of crime on businesses and communities.
The policy resolution, Building Consistent RCMP Engagement Structures to Support Safer Communities and Stronger Economies, will be presented at the B.C. Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting and Policy Sessions in June 2026.
The resolution raises concerns that RCMP detachments across British Columbia engage with businesses and community stakeholders inconsistently. While some detachments maintain formal advisory committees and business liaison programs, others lack structured engagement entirely, limiting communication, collaboration, and local input into policing priorities.
Although B.C.’s Provincial Policing Standards state that policing bodies should pursue input from a broad spectrum of the community, including the business community, SWRBOT notes there is currently no standardized provincial framework requiring formal advisory committees, regular consultation timelines, or consistent reporting practices across RCMP detachments.
The resolution also recognizes that following consultations with SWRBOT and affected business communities, the province established a community advisory group on extortion to improve coordination and information-sharing between law enforcement, government, and impacted stakeholders. SWRBOT views this as a positive step and is encouraging the provincial government to build on this model by expanding and standardizing formal engagement structures across RCMP detachments throughout British Columbia.
To address these concerns, SWRBOT is recommending that the Provincial Government:
- Develop a province-wide RCMP Engagement and Strategic Planning Framework outlining minimum standards for priority setting, stakeholder consultation, reporting, and strategic plan development, including consistent timelines for plan release and review across all detachments.
- Establish a standardized RCMP Community Advisory Framework requiring detachments to maintain formal community advisory committees that help inform strategic plans and local policing priorities. These committees should include representation from business organizations to provide input on public safety trends, economic impacts, and community needs.
- Ensure detachments in rural and smaller communities have the resources needed to maintain advisory committees, conduct data-sharing, and meaningfully collaborate with
the business community and other stakeholders.
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Aman Parmar
aman@swrbot.com | 604-634-0345
