Courtesy Codiac Regional Policing Authority
A presentation made to Moncton City Council suggests that a new RCMP facility won’t open until 2024, rather than the expected 2023 opening.
The original schedule planned for a construction tender to be issued this spring, with ground being broke by July. However, with designs and documents only being finished recently, Elaine Aucoin, Director of Environmental Planning and Management, says starting by the summer is not realistic, “we feel that we don’t have sufficient time to do a proper tender and start construction this summer.”
Instead, a new timeline will see a call for tender occur in November, with the contract awarded in January 2022 and the start of construction in the following spring.
The new timeline is believed to provide many benefits including more competitive bids, cost savings reduced pandemic risks.
A comprehensive list of the amenities that will be included in the 6,683 sqm facility was provided and is highlighted by an exercise room, EV charging stations, and an atrium with a living wall.
The costs that the development will incur were highly scrutinized by Moncton City Councillors. A $45 million price tag had been put on the construction of the facility, however, Councillor Paul Pellerin added that it had increased.
“This is not good for openness and transparency because everybody on the council that was at the private meeting knows that this is more than $46 million, “said Pellerin.
The Councils of Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe have a Cost-Sharing Agreement that will cover the capital and operating costs of the facility.
The new estimated costs are not public knowledge. City Manager Marc Landry stated that there are still decisions to be made before the financials are released and that a more competitive tender process will occur by not releasing the numbers.
Councillor Pellerin was unpleased that a process to determine what is required and what can be excluded still has to be done, “I don’t understand why we’re moving forward with a project with the possibility of going through and saying we don’t need certain things,” he said.
Other members of the council also questioned some of the amenities in the building including the size of the facility. City Councillor Brian Butler, a former member of the Codiac RCMP, noted that staggered shifts could see many areas of the building unused during low peak hours.
“When you get to evenings or night you can probably shoot a cannon down the building and you wouldn’t hit anyone,” said Butler.
He thought it may also be significant to note that the pandemic has proved many people can do their job from home, such as those who occupy office or secretarial roles.
“Do we build this building for all these people or can we do without this many offices or they can be multi-use offices,” he said.
Mayor Dawn Arnold applauded the work of City staff, recognizing that the project may not reach completion until over a decade after deliberations first began, “ I think this is quite typical for any major infrastructure investment,” she said.
The facility will be located off of Albert Street.
