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VICTORIA — Victoria city council has fired back at the B.C. government for refusing to establish a single police force in the capital region.

Councillors unanimously agreed Thursday to send a letter to Premier John Horgan, Solicitor General Mike Farnworth and Vancouver Island MLAs expressing “serious concern” that Victoria and Esquimalt taxpayers continue to bear the full cost of policing the region’s core area.

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“This is an issue that won’t be resolved until the province decides to show leadership,” said Coun. Ben Isitt, who urged a tough response from council.

“And it’s extremely unfortunate that they’re choosing not to show leadership.”

The former Liberal government forced the merger of the Victoria and Esquimalt police departments in 2003, but stopped short of establishing a regional force.

Photo by ADRIAN LAM / TIMES COLONIST

Isitt said it’s “completely unfair” that Victoria and Esquimalt residents now bear the entire cost of policing the population of the downtown core, which swells in size each day with people from across the region.