Last week's "revelation" that the federal government was handing the RCMP a significant wage hike without telling the province or the municipalities - who will have to stump up the cash - has predictably sparked the usual round of indignation, condemnation, wailing and gnashing of the teeth.
The news filtered through to our own mayor in Richmond and in other Lower Mainland city halls with memories still fresh of the all-smiley ceremonial signing by B.C. and Canada's justice ministers of a shiny new 20-year RCMP contract.
It was a deal that was alleged to have addressed a catalogue of municipal concerns, largely in the cost control and accountability departments, where the cities, historically, have had zero input.
The feds, however, "forgot" to mention the increase was on the radar and didn't even mention it to provincial justice minister Shirley Bond, who claimed to be as blindsided as everyone else.
But should everyone really be that surprised at the apparent contempt shown for the province and our city?
Here we have an organization that knows it has a province and its cities - none of which really want to pay top dollar for a provincial force or are squirrelly about setting up municipal forces - over a barrel.
It's the proverbial "take it or leave it" scenario. If you have absolutely no alternative but to buy that house or that car, and the seller knows your mind, you're not going to get a better deal.
Our city council and others across the province have baulked at the projected cost of setting up a regional force and are nervous about setting up municipal ones, also due to budget uncertainties.
We recognize that it's not just about the money, it's about having a say, being heard, being part of the decision-making.
Our mayor and his Lower Mainland counterparts will meet next Friday for a whine-fest and likely talk around in circles and end up back where they began.
Unless they are genuinely prepared to "go it alone" and walk away from what appears to be more of the same from the feds and the RCMP, then, sorry, we're just all going to have to suck it up.
