How Much Do We Owe You? Municipal Policing Costs

Ontario Regulation 413/23, enacted under the Community Safety and Policing Act of 2019, sets out the financial responsibilities of municipalities in relation to policing services provided by the Ontario Provincial Police (O.P.P.).

The regulation includes several key components essential for understanding the structure and obligations of policing in Ontario. It begins with detailed definitions of key terms: “Base Policing” refers to the general municipal policing services delivered by O.P.P. officers, while “Call for Service” encompasses any situation requiring police response, whether initiated by the public or detected by officers. The term “Integrated Detachment” is defined as an O.P.P. facility that provides municipal policing services, distinct from O.P.P. headquarters or non-policing offices.

The regulation establishes a framework for calculating the financial contributions municipalities must make to the provincial government for these services. This calculation involves assessing the average annual number of O.P.P. officers required for municipal policing over a four-year period and determining the Detachment Municipal Percentage, which compares the number of officers needed for municipal policing against the average annual number assigned to the detachment. Additionally, the Commissioner of O.P.P. is tasked with categorizing municipal calls for service based on their nature and the resources required for response, with these categories subject to revision and made publicly accessible.

To calculate the amounts owed by municipalities, the regulation outlines a systematic approach involving several steps. First, municipalities must determine employment costs, including both officer and civilian salaries and benefits for the target year. Support costs, covering expenses related to personnel who assist policing functions but do not patrol, must also be considered, along with direct operating expenditures related to integrated detachments. The regulation establishes a transitional period for municipalities that begin receiving O.P.P. policing services, covering the remainder of the year in which services start and the subsequent three years. Additionally, if the O.P.P. provides policing for only part of the target year, the municipality’s payment will be adjusted to reflect the proportionate service period.

To ensure transparency, the regulation mandates that the Commissioner make key information related to classes of municipal calls for service and other relevant calculations available on the O.P.P. website. This initiative aims to keep municipalities informed about their financial obligations and the structure of policing services provided.

Ontario Regulation 413/23 establishes a framework for determining the costs associated with municipal policing services provided by the O.P.P. It seeks to create a clear and fair method for calculating municipal contributions while ensuring accountability and transparency in the policing process, ultimately improving the effectiveness of community safety and policing across Ontario.

Ontario (413/23) January 17, 2024