By Adam Ophus

Costing Taxpayers

Rocky RCMP may begin charging for record checks

Mar 19, 2021 | 11:37 PM

Rocky Mountain House town council is considering, by the request of Rocky RCMP Staff Sergeant Carl Dinsdale, approving an administrative fee for someone trying to obtain a criminal record or vulnerable sector check.

Criminal record checks are usually needed for employment, adoption, or volunteering.

Vulnerable sector checks are more typically needed by those working with children, the elderly, or persons with disabilities.

The RCMP currently serves as the municipal police force for the town.

Dinsdale informed Town administration that checks are completed by their support staff, and the multitude of requests they receive can be very time consuming.

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Rocky CAO Dean Krause noted that they were also informed that roughly 30% of those requests are never picked up.

Many municipalities throughout the province already charge for checks to be done, ranging from $20 to $50.

Town council commented that if they were to do it, it would make sense to charge a flat rate to everyone across the board, including for those who need it for volunteer work.

Council decided that they did not have enough information to make a decision at this time. They requested that Dinsdale to make a presentation to describe in detail the benefits this would have for tax payers and the community at a later meeting.