The Editor,
Re. "Shared policing is a must" (The Tri-City News, June 19).
It doesn't go far enough. A rough comparison in just one service between the Greater Toronto area and the Greater Vancouver area illustrates the enormous burden taxpayers must bear without the regionalization of services.
Port Coquitlam's chief administrative officer John LeeBurn is correct in stating that we need to share resources. If all municipalities contributed to the same program or service it would create efficiencies and economics of scale, making it cheaper.
The Greater Toronto area is 5.5 million people. Metro Vancouver is 2.3 million. The fire department in the GTA costs $371 million per year and has 40 officers in their administrative ranks. Metro fire departments costs $283 million and has over 100 officers in their administrative ranks.
Geoff Taylor
Port Coquitlam
