OPP cruiser. /OPP East Region X photo
As municipalities across the province are reviewing budgets for 2025, one line item sure to cause some sticker shock will be the rise in cost from the OPP.
Smaller communities across Ontario, and particularly in the north, are grappling with sharp increases in Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) costs, with many local leaders calling the situation unsustainable.
According to the CBC, in Red Lake, Mayor Fred Mota reported a 22.6 per cent rise in policing costs for 2025, adding $350,000 to the town’s budget.
“This means an increase of $132 per property, which is unbelievable,” said Mota. “Municipalities cannot sustain these costs.”
In Trent Hills, Mayor Bob Crate tells us the increase isn’t as bad as some communities are facing.
Crate says he thinks the increase is in part due to the OPP’s new collective agreement that saw the force jump from 29th place to No. 1 for compensation in the province.
Cramahe Township Mayor Mandy Martin says while they haven’t seen a big increase for a few years, this one comes at a time when everyone is feeling the pinch.
Martin says the real issue for residents is that policing is just one factor of the tax bill and everything else has gone up.
Hardest hit are Ontario’s northern communities and the CBC says that Pickle Lake, a small, remote town, has reported a 315 per cent jump. Mota, also vice-president of the Kenora District Municipal Association, says many of these increases stem from provincial downloading.
“We believe the province is shifting costs onto municipalities, forcing us to raise taxes just to cover policing expenses,” added Mota.
The province’s Ministry of the Solicitor General acknowledged the issue, stating it would work with affected municipalities to address their financial concerns.
As communities face rising costs, advocacy groups like the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario are pushing for reforms to the OPP billing model.
“This level of increase is not realistic or fair,” said Dumas.
The issue will be discussed in upcoming provincial meetings.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
