Council

In 2004, the Town of New Liskeard, Town of Haileybury and Township of Dymond amalgamated as the City of Temiskaming Shores.  

At the time, everyone involved with the process advised local residents the new municipality would adopt a hybrid-policing model, retaining municipal policing in New Liskeard and OPP in Haileybury and Dymond.  

During the elections for the current council, none of the successful candidates made the policing model an issue and they certainly did not make the public aware of any intention to disband the municipal police service in New Liskeard.

In June 2005, in the interest of cost comparisons, Council requested an OPP costing for policing the former Town of New Liskeard.   At the time Council dispensed with Notice, denying the public any advance notice of its intent or the opportunity to speak to the issue.  Council did not seek a similar costing from the Temiskaming Shores Police, nor did it initiate public consultation on the future of policing.

On Monday, January 9, 2005, by a 3-2 vote the Council of the City of Temiskaming Shores rushed through a motion without notice to begin disbandment of the Temiskaming Shores Police Service and replace it with OPP service.

Council has consistently used a deficient and undemocratic process to rush through disbandment of the Temiskaming Shores Police Service and Dispatch Centre.

By breaking their amalgamation and election commitments, Whalen, Hughes and Wells have betrayed local ratepayers and created distrust and animosity between residents of New Liskeard, Haileybury and Dymond.    

KOPS believes any change to policing should only be pursued after thorough investigation of all the facts and full public consultation with affected local residents and business owners.

January 9th Council Vote
Councillor Danny Whalen - Voted for Disbandment
Councillor Brian Hughes - Voted for Disbandment
Councillor Tom Cambridge - Voted for Disbandment
Councillor Bob Hobbs - Opposed Disbandment
Mayor Jamie Hawken - Opposed Disbandment
Councillor Tom Wells - Absent for Vote
Councillor Jim Rowe - Not on Council at Time of Vote

AUGUST 21ST Council Vote
Councillor Danny Whalen - Voted for Disbandment
Councillor Brian Hughes - Voted for Disbandment
Councillor Tom Cambridge - Voted for Disbandment
Councillor Tom Wells – Voted for Disbandment
Councillor Jim Rowe – Voted for Disbandment
Mayor Jamie Hawken - Opposed Disbandment
Councillor Bob Hobbs - Opposed Disbandment

Latest Developments

• At the October 10, 2006, Council Meeting, Mayor Hawken advised that no disbandment hearing would occur in October and it was possible there would not be a hearing until after the municipal election.  He also confirmed that the new Council would have the power to stop disbandment.
• At the August 21, 2006, Council Meeting, Councillors Whalen, Hughes, Wells, Cambridge and Rowe voted to submit their disbandment proposal to the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services (OCCPS).  Mayor Hawken and Councillor Bob Hobbs opposed the disbandment proposal.
• After numerous delegations from local residents and business owners in favour of keeping the Temiskaming Shores Police, Council continues to ignore affected ratepayers and has requested a disbandment hearing with the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services (OCCPS).  No date has yet been set for the hearing, but KOPS will continue to fight Council’s misguided decision until disbandment is stopped.
• Council has prevented a municipal referendum on the future of local policing; instead ensuring that November’s election becomes a referendum on whether councillors have kept their promises, consulted with the public and helped to build a stronger community.
• On February 21, 2006, city staff advised Council new annual base funding from the province will dramatically reduce the per household cost of municipal policing in New Liskeard from $584 to $293.
• City reports estimate the cost of disbanding the Temiskaming Shores Police Service could be as high as $1,100,000 in staff severance payments alone.
• If disbandment succeeds, the City will need to establish a new dispatch centre for fire, 911 and public works, at a higher net cost than the current police service Dispatch Centre, or cut local jobs and send dispatch dollars to an out-of-district dispatcher.

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