Residents call on Ottawa Police Services Board to reject funding increase for 2022
Community members as well as city councillors questioned the Ottawa Police Services Board's finance and audit committee for hours Tuesday over whether their proposed budget increase is justified.
The 2022 draft budget for Ottawa Police calls for an additional $14.7 million dollars, a 2.86 per cent increase. This translates to $19 dollars extra for the average taxpayer in Ottawa.
Police Chief Peter Sloly said Tuesday it has been a difficult task to balance change and maintaining core policing.
“It’s been extremely challenging to balance the desire to flatten the cost curve of the budget while also try to meet the increasingly diverse and competing demands for police services across the largest geographical municipality in Canada,” he said. “The Ottawa Police Services joins the board in its commitment to find that balance while building a truly different and better police services.”
The police chief welcomed discussions over the budget that will take place over the next several weeks.
More than a dozen delegates address the Police Services Board, including Saamia Ahmad, of Vivic Research, who says, “I think it is a bald-faced lie to say that there are not additional efficiencies possible in the budget, and it is also inconceivable to increase the funding to police while other city services remain so underfunded and countless community members have called to have police involved in fewer interactions.”
Many delegates want to see funding diverted from police to go to other social groups when it comes to mental health calls. Ahmad cited Ottawa Medics as an organization that would be better suited for mental health calls but which currently lacks the funding and resources.
Ottawa Councillor Shawn Menard spoke to CTV Ottawa at Noon ahead of the budget discussions. Menard says, “We need to look at what other cities are doing around the world and the country, what we are seeing is some modest reallocation towards other professionals that produce better outcomes associated with mental health and do it for a lower cost. We need to see that in Ottawa.”
Menard says Ottawa is not meeting the needs of mental health crisis in the city. “If are looking at a zero-based budget for this year, or a very modest increase, any saving from that should go towards a mental health outreach program. 24/7 mental health services, where calls to 9-1-1 associated with mental health calls get referred to front line mental health professionals that can deal with those situations. We would see a reduced workload for police.”
Last week, Ottawa Police Board Chair Coun. Diane Deans said the board has "heard the calls for change." The councillor later said on social media that it would be "up to the board to refine" the proposed budget "in keeping with community expectations."
Ottawa Police Association president Matt Skof called this pledge “troubling.”
He says, “It is the stage in which the comments come out. This has been going on for several months. You have dedicated, experienced professionals at the service, from the chief downwards, hundreds of people could be touching this looking at what is appropriate to have in the budget.”
Skof says, “At this stage to be suggesting that a career politician has better knowledge or can be more responsible in a budget than the executive of the police, that in itself is irresponsible and its dangerous.”
Skof called the police budget “incredibly important and expensive.” He says, “At the eleventh hour suggesting they have more knowledge or a proposal that could help reduce the budget…a proposal around policing takes years in advance in planning. You have a serious player missing at this table when you are discussing policing budget, and mental health calls, the province is not at the table.”
The meeting adjourned after more than five hours of discussion, with a motion to forward the budget discussion to the next board meeting.
The next Police Services Board meeting is Nov. 22. The final citywide budget is voted on Dec. 8.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Asking rent prices up 9.3% across Canada, Ontario sees only decline: report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Mexico's president accuses press and volunteer searchers for missing people of 'necrophilia'
The administration of Mexico's president has accused the press and volunteer searchers who look for the bodies of missing people of 'necrophilia,' comments that drew criticism this week.
WATCH Expecting an interest rate cut in June? Don't bet on it after new jobs data
Canada's labour market rebounded in April, adding more than 90,000 jobs, a staggering number of new positions after four consecutive months of little change.
Out-of-control wildfire burning near Fort McMurray
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the wildfire burning 28 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city was 25 hectares in size.
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.