OPP Costing

The OPP quote does not include many duties currently provided by the Temiskaming Shores Police Service, such as:

• Overtime policing coverage associated with annual large scale tourism and recreation events like SummerFest, the New Liskeard Fall Fair, the Biker's Reunion and SnowFest
• Comprehensive By-law enforcement
• City and area-wide Enhanced 911 service
• Local Temiskaming Shores Police Service dispatch
• City and area-wide fire dispatch
• City-wide after hours public works dispatch

No one doubts the professionalism of the OPP, but a decision on the future of policing in New Liskeard should include level of service expectations by affected residents and businesses and direct cost comparisons, not just a quote for basic police service.

In fact, with the OPP quote, Council would pay to have local police calls answered at the OPP call centre in North Bay, and then need a separate duplicate dispatch to handle all the other local requirements like fire and public works for snow or broken pipe emergencies.

Council will also have to pay extra if they want the OPP to have a limited downtown policing presence.   In addition to their contract quote, the OPP suggests the City consider obtaining a storefront office to establish a community policing presence in New Liskeard.   The City would be responsible for the substantial cost to establish, equip and maintain this new part-time OPP storefront.   With the Temiskaming Shores Police, New Liskeard already has a full-time downtown headquarters, with live in-person 24/7 service.  

Even with a set OPP contract, communities are expected to pay for any additional expenses presented by the OPP, whether overtime costs or province-wide OPP wage settlements.   OPP wage settlements are negotiated provincially, without local participation, and consistently result in higher wage increases than municipal police settlements.   Each time the OPP price increases, communities have no choice but to pay the bill or further reduce service.

While local OPP officials attend and consult the community’s police services board, they ultimately answer to OPP command in Orillia and may face competing demands for police resources.  With municipal policing, the force is directly accountable to the local police services board and police officers have dedicated community assignments, ensuring local priorities and concerns are being addressed.

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