Project to build 3 RCMP detachments in Yukon $6M over budget

An RCMP project to build two new detachments in Faro and Carcross, and renovate another one in Ross River, Yukon, is on track to come in $6 millionabove itsinitial budget, according to documents obtained by CBC News.

An October briefing note prepared for Justice Minister Tracy-Anne McPheesays a funding shortfall was known since at least November2019. In September, the project management team told government officials "the program budget remains at $11.69Mand [is] currently trending at $13.4M."

Justice department spokesperson Patricia Randell said in an email that the combined cost for all three detachments is now nearly $17.7 million. But she said the RCMP moved money around within its capital budget, which means there won't be any additional costs for the Yukon government.

"Typical projects start with a preliminary concept and then move through planning, design, procurement and construction phases," Randell wrote. "As projects move through these phases, different options may be considered and decisions are made to keep costs within the assigned budget."

Randell said the Yukon government's share of the project costs remains approximately $9.9 million. The federal government is contributing $7.8 million

New detachments to be green buildings

Randell said the Carcross detachment is forecast to cost $8.2 million andthe Faro detachment $5.5 million. The current Ross River detachment is slated to undergo renovations at a cost of around $3.9 million.

The three projects fallunder a five-year capital plan that expires in 2022. Construction is scheduled to be completed by that year.

Assessment documents filed with the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board(YESAB) for the Faro project say the new detachment will be built on the site of the existing one. The building is to be built with modular components and will benet-zero carbon emissions, with solar panels and geothermal energy.

No YESAB applications have yet been filed for the Ross River and Carcross projects.

The briefing note says the Yukon government urged the RCMP to "consider a smaller detachment in Carcrossthat align with the current staffing model." The government also requested that the Faro detachment be built as a "community policy office" linked to a "hub policing model based in Ross River."

The Yukon RCMP did not respond to a request for comment.