THAT Council endorse the requested amendment, for clarification purposes, by the UBCM Resolution Board in regard to the City of White Rock's submitted resolution "Invoicing for Required Officer Attendance at Hospitals" to now read as follows:
Whereas the RCMP are required under the Mental Health Act (MHA) to remain at the hospital
with a person that has been apprehended under the MHA until they can be presented to a
physician;
And whereas wait times can range from two and one-half (2.5) hours to six (6) hours during
which time a person suffering from a mental health condition is in the custody of the police,
contributing to further stigmatization, and preventing the police officer from taking any other
emergency calls for the provision of their services:
Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province implement a provision permitting local governments to invoice their local health authority for police officers that are required, under the Mental Health Act, to wait with hospital patients for more than 30 minutes, similar to the framework used for BC Ambulance Services.