Ontario Proposes Financial Relief for Municipal OPP Costs

The Ontario government has announced a proposal to provide over $77 million in financial relief to municipalities to help offset increased costs associated with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) services. This initiative is aimed at assisting small and rural communities in managing the financial impacts resulting from the collective bargaining agreement reached between the province and the Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA) in July 2024.

The proposed financial relief includes several measures:

• A 3.75% reduction on 2023 total reconciled costs.

• A 44% reduction on 2023 reconciled overtime costs.

• A 10% reduction on amounts invoiced for 2025 policing costs.

Additionally, the government will continue its $125 million Court Security & Prisoner Transportation Transfer Payment Program for the 2025 calendar year. The province is also considering options to review the OPP billing model to better meet the needs of communities across Ontario.

The proposal is seen as a response to the fiscal challenges faced by municipalities, particularly in small and rural areas, due to rising OPP costs. The financial relief is intended to help municipal leaders balance their budgets and invest in their communities without compromising the level of policing provided by the OPP.

This announcement follows concerns raised by municipal associations about the financial pressures on local governments, especially in the context of inflation and infrastructure demands.