Kamloops Council, Aug 12 (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

NEW RCMP DETACHMENT

Provincial approval for series of Kamloops AAPs expected in 6-to-8 weeks

Aug 13, 2025 | 4:23 PM

KAMLOOPS — On Tuesday (Aug. 12), Kamloops council voted to ask the province to okay a series of new alternative approval processes (AAP) as the city seeks to borrow nearly $190 million dollars for four projects.

While all four motions were approved by council, the plan to build a new RCMP detachment along Battle Street, which carried the heaviest price tag at $150 million, garnered the most debate.

The City of Kamloops is contractually obligated to provide the RCMP a detachment that meets national standards, and with the current 1990-built Battle Street headquarters bursting at the seems, that means a new multi-million dollar build is on the books.

Councillor Katie Neustaeter was among three around the horseshoe to vote against the motion, along with Kelly Hall and the mayor. But that was insufficient to defeat the proposal.

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“Maybe we go to a municipal police force at some point, or provincial — who knows,” Councillor Mike O’Reilly said. “But what we do know is the facility is inadequate and it’s half the size that we need. And if we look at, potentially, councillors who want to go to referendum, we are going to lose another year, which will ultimately add significant cost to the building of another year.”

“Whether RCMP or municipal or provincial, we need a new building.”

Questions where also raised by Councillor Dale Bass about why the city is required to receive public assent for a building they are required to construct.

“I would like someone on staff to explain the logic of going to an AAP for an RCMP building we are legally required to build,” asked Bass. “And if we don’t build it, the Mounties could build it themselves and bill us, and then we would still have to go to an AAP, and if it’s rejected we still have to pay for it. Because I don’t understand the logic to that.”

With nearly $200 million potentially being added to the city’s debt load, if the new bylaws receive public approval, city staff believe now is the correct time to borrow.

“Our debt percentage today is less than seven per cent,” outlined Corporate Services Director David Hallinan, “so if you are making $100,000 a year, your all-in mortgage costs, your debt, your lines of credit, your car payments are $7,000 in a year. Personally speaking, I would love to have a mortgage debt percentage of that amount.”

After approving the first three readings of the borrowing bylaws on Tuesday, the city awaits approval from the province before proceeding with the timeline for the formal AAP. The city expects a response in six to eight weeks.