Clearview looks to province to absorb new policing costs

Clearview Township council has voted to push back against a nearly 23 per cent increase in the proposed cost of policing.

Treasurer Kelly McDonald told this week’s meeting that historically, the township’s budget for Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) services has increased around two per cent a year. She says news of the big proposed increase came without warning.

“We were advised in October to expect a 22.7 per cent increase for next year,” said McDonald. “The increase appears to be primarily wage-based.”

Mayor Doug Measures introduced a motion calling on the province to absorb any increase in excess of the usual two per cent.

“The additional costs are directly the result of collective bargaining which is within the control of the OPP and should have been known to be financially unsustainable to the municipalities that now need to pay the bill,” he said.

Historically, said Measures, relations between Clearview and the OPP have been positive.

He said “The Township and the local OPP detachment have worked in a positive, collaborative and effective manner for decades.”

Measures says that a two per cent increase is more manageable for the township and more in line with historical trends.

He has been named vice chair of the newly formed Huronia West OPP Board which replaces the old Advisory Committee. Among its responsibilities, the board will consult with the Commissioner of the OPP regarding selection of a detachment commander and determine objectives and priorities for the detachment in line with the strategic plan of the Ministry of the Solicitor General.

The Township of Essa passed a similar motion, and requested support from Clearview. Measures says the resolution will be forwarded to Premier Doug Ford, MPP Brian Saunderson, and all of the 329 municipalities which contract with the OPP for policing.

While the proposed increase in costs for Clearview is eyebrow-raising, Measures told the meeting that he is aware of one of the larger municipalities is facing a 46 per cent increase.