The new E-Divison headquarters of the RCMP in British Columbia has broken ground on its Green Timbers site. The 76,000 sq. metre facility is scheduled for completion in 2013 at a cost of $996 million. It will house 2,700 workers under one roof – employees are currently scattered around 25 various sites in the Metro region.

The project begins as new reports have surfaced showing the growing unrest and frustrations of officers under the federal police force. A staff survey has revealed that nearly 60% of all cops have considered quitting the RCMP in the last year. In addition, approximatively 40% would not recommend joining the force.

These striking numbers come on the heels of calls for either a regional or provincial police force to replace the seemingly corrupt and incompetent RCMP. On again, off again Solicitor General Kash Heed is a recognized proponent of a regional force. Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland all have their own provincial police forces, while Toronto and York Region are two examples of regional forces. The RCMP’s province-wide contract expires in 2012, leaving open the possibility for its replacement. It is unknown what would happen to this new facility if that were to occur.

More renderings after the jump.