Ottawa Activists Urge Councillors to Reject Police Budget Increase

Community advocates in Ottawa are urging city councillors to reject a proposed increase to the police budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Instead, they are calling for a reallocation of funds towards essential services such as mental health resources, housing, and public transit.

On March 14, 2024, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe presented the City of Ottawa’s budget for 2026, which includes a potential property tax hike of up to 3.75 percent. Among the budget proposals is a 6.5 percent increase to the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) budget, marking the most significant rise in 15 years. This has sparked immediate backlash from various community groups.

Mayor Sutcliffe defended the proposed increase, citing a recent city audit that highlighted staffing shortages within the police force. He noted the need for a robust police presence, especially during community events. “The police services board has adopted a district policing model that will require more officers to be deployed throughout the community,” Sutcliffe explained. He emphasized that the police have been under-resourced for some time, necessitating support for their staffing stabilization plan.

Critics, including Tom Ledgley from Horizon Ottawa, have labeled the increase a “double standard.” Ledgley argued that the focus should not only be on maintaining low taxes but also on adequately funding crucial community services. He pointed out that the OPS 2024 Annual Report indicated a mere two percent rise in the crime severity index, primarily attributed to non-violent crimes.

Ledgley further noted that homelessness and housing shortages could not be effectively addressed through increased policing. “They need a place to stay; they don’t need police treating them like criminals for lacking a home,” he stated. He proposed that funds should instead support OC Transpo, which is facing a $120 million deficit, and initiatives aimed at improving housing affordability.

Additionally, the provincial housing ministry recently announced that Ottawa did not meet its housing targets, disqualifying the city from receiving funds from the Building Faster Fund. Ledgley expressed skepticism regarding the provincial targets, suggesting they often shift blame onto municipalities. He emphasized the urgent need for increased city investment in housing and mental health supports.

Concerns about the implications of increased police funding on marginalized communities have also been raised. The OPS 2024 Annual Use of Force Report revealed that racialized individuals constituted 57 percent of all subjects in use-of-force incidents, an increase of 11 percent from the previous year. Furthermore, Black individuals comprised 26 percent of those subjects despite representing only 8 percent of the Ottawa population.

Robin Browne, co-founder of the 619-819 Black Hub, criticized the continued investment in policing as a misguided approach to community safety. “When you throw money at the police, you’re not addressing the root issues that make people safe, like mental health support and housing,” Browne remarked. He urged the city to focus on funding community resources, particularly culturally appropriate services for racialized populations, such as the Ottawa Black Mental Health Collective.

Research from the University of Maryland supports this viewpoint, indicating that investments in streetlights, mental health services, and youth outreach are often more effective in enhancing community safety than increased police funding.

In response to the growing calls for change, OPS Chief Eric Stubbs defended the budget increase, citing the complexities of policing in a growing city with rising call volumes. He acknowledged that city councillors desire more police presence to address various community issues, emphasizing the necessity for proactive measures rather than reactive responses.

While Chief Stubbs agreed that funding for community resources and social programs is essential, he stressed that such investments should not come at the expense of police funding. “There should be investment in those areas, but we have many challenges and strains in what we’re trying to do, which is keep the community safe,” he stated.

Moreover, Stubbs highlighted ongoing efforts to ensure the police force is representative of Ottawa’s diverse communities, noting that recent recruit classes reflect this commitment. However, Browne challenged the efficacy of these efforts, questioning whether the OPS has genuinely engaged with Black and Middle Eastern communities. He pointed out that despite increased diversity in hiring, the statistics on police interactions remain troubling.

As discussions surrounding the budget continue, the divergent views on policing and community investment reveal the complexities of balancing public safety with the needs of the community. The upcoming city council meetings will be crucial in determining how Ottawa allocates its resources in the face of pressing social issues.