Board approves $1.1 billion Toronto police budget, a $25 million increase over 2021

Thestar.ca
Jan. 12, 2022

The Toronto police board has unanimously approved a $1.1 billion operating budget for the city’s police in 2022, a nearly $25 million increase greenlit despite the protests of some citizens who urged reduced spending -- or at least more time to review the numbers.

After a lengthy budget meeting Tuesday, the civilian board voted in favour of what Toronto police Chief James Ramer called a “fiscally responsible budget,” the bulk of it covering salary increases required under the collective bargaining agreement. Ramer said the additional spending will help redeploy resources to initiatives aimed at traffic safety, reducing gun violence, investigating hate crimes and increasing the number of community officers.

The budget also includes spending for an estimated 12 to 15 employees Ramer said were necessary to address a central recommendation from a review into the force’s handling of serial killer Bruce McArthur that identified Toronto police were not in compliance with provincial legislation in key investigative and record-keeping areas.

In the last two years, the seven-member board has faced unprecedented pressure to reduce spending amid ongoing calls to defund police and redeploy resources to other agencies, including social services. Moments before voting for the increased budget, Mayor John Tory, who sits on the board, said he would not accept a “binary” view that change in policing can only take place through dramatic cuts to budgets.

Tory said the 2022 budget strikes “the appropriate balance” between “detasking” police -- taking away some work done by police officers -- and making investments that will keep people safe.

“I will not compromise the safety of this city, and the steady implementation of reforms, and the way we do policing and the investments that are necessary to bring that about ... especially in order to appease people who ... have very few facts and figures to back that up,” Tory said of those advocating for a 50 per cent reduction on policing spending.

In formal deputations, multiple members of the public urged the board not to approve the increased spending, some raising concerns about the amount of time the public was given to scrutinize the budget ask.

“We’re about to reach the two-year mark in this pandemic, and policing is by no means the top priority for our city,” said Abaigeal Clark, who said the city was facing more important issues, citing problems in the shelter system and a recent night when no ambulances were available.

Multiple people and community organizations, including the Toronto Police Accountability Coalition and the Law Union of Ontario, called the board out for what they described as insufficient time to review the major public expenditure. The board informed the public about its special budget meeting on Jan. 4, asking anyone who wanted to provide feedback to do so by 9 a.m. on Jan. 10 -- an “impossible deadline,” said citizen Doris Fulton.

Some speakers implored the board to delay the vote.

“This is really disconcerting to me, because what it looks like, the optics of this, is that the board does not wish to have public input on the budget to release something so complicated with so much data and not give us enough time,” Fulton said.

“At the request of City Council, the Toronto Police Services Board committed to greater transparency in its budgeting and this rushed process does not meet that standard,” wrote Rob Howarth, executive director of the Toronto Neighbourhood Centres, in a written deputation.

Ryan Teschner, executive director of the Toronto police board, said in an email that the board’s bylaws allow for a special meeting, such as Tuesday’s budget meeting, to be convened with 24 hours’ notice, but in this case “a full week’s notice was given, similar to what is provided for regular board meetings.”

“The Board and the Service are always committed to transparency, accountability, and meaningful consultation with Toronto communities. Our budget process is no exception,” Teschner said.

During the meeting, Toronto police chief administrative officer Tony Veneziano stated that the 2023 budget process will begin earlier, allowing for more time for public input.

The police budget must still be approved by Toronto city council, a process scheduled to begin next month.