Vancouver Police to be highest paid officers in Canada if new contract ratified

Starting Sunday, members of the Vancouver Police Union (VPU) will begin voting on a new two-year contract, with an annual wage increase of 4.5 per cent.

If members vote to ratify, the contract will bring wages up to $121,988 for Vancouver Police Department (VPD) constables with more than five years of experience — making them the highest-paid constables in Canada.

The new agreement would retroactively apply, beginning in 2022 and ending on Dec. 31, 2024, if ratified.

The VPD says the Vancouver Police Board, the City of Vancouver, and the Vancouver Police Union agreed on the terms and ratification is the next step.

Union President Ralph Kaisers acknowledges this will cost taxpayers but maintains the dangers of the job justify the pay raise.

“For one, the work we do here in Vancouver is very challenging. Part of this too, that’s really important, is everyone across the country right now is searching for police candidates to apply,” he told CityNews.

“In the labour market right now, policing is one of those things across the country where almost every organization is short-staffed and we’re trying to fill vacancies, so we have to be competitive.”

Kaisers says the wages will also help retain members as some look to move to different departments in the Lower Mainland, including the new Surrey Police Service.

“There’s no doubt that we’ve had a couple that have gone there and have come back. At the same time, we’ve lost a number of members to the RCMP, we’ve lost members to Port Moody and at the same time we’ve got RCMP members that have come to the Vancouver Police Department,” he explained.

The deal also comes with improved parental leave benefits and access to mental health supports.

“Our psych services plan has been increased from $3,000 to $5,000, but also just as important was the ability to seek out help from a clinical counsellor.

“And I say that because previously the plan would only pay for us to see a registered psychologist. It’s very difficult to get in and find a registered psychologist,” said Kaisers.

The proposed deal, which Kaisers believes will be ratified, also includes benefits for fertility treatments.

Ratification voting begins on Nov. 26 and runs until 6 p.m. on Dec. 7th.