Iqaluit RCMP beg for money to buy snowmobiles?

It was with sadness that I read about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police having to go begging to the citizens of Iqaluit for funding to purchase two snowmobiles so that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police can do its job (March 7).

I could not believe that the proud police force of Canada is now at the level of begging.

Did no one in “V” division foresee the necessity of snowmobiles in the Arctic? Or did the dollar overcome common sense?

I guess at year-end it looks good for the commanding officer of “V” division or the city of Iqaluit detachment commander to have money left in the budget.

Perhaps the RCMP should look into its financial resources and supply the funding for two new snowmobiles and avoid further embarrassment to the dedicated members trying to do an excellent job on Band-Aid finances.

The members who decided to look into asking the public for money should at least be congratulated as people of conscience in providing a policing service to the public. I’m sure that when they signed on to becoming members of the RCMP they never envisioned begging for money to do police work.

Any thoughts in this letter are my own and not related in any way to my occupation.

Jim Grittner
Iqaluit