LaSalle mayor demands equitable police funding for municipalities with local forces
Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2025 6:07 am
Crystal Meloche says it's unfair that the province has only provided subsidies, cost-caps to OPP communities
LaSalle Town Council has unanimously agreed to send a letter to the province calling for equitable police funding for communities across the province regardless of whether they are policed by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) or local police services.
Mayor Crystal Meloche told council at its Monday night meeting that the letter is “about ensuring that our municipal police officers and services have the same support as our OPP detachments.”
“Over the past two budget cycles, the province has provided direct relief to OPP-policed municipalities to help offset sharp increases in policing costs,” she wrote.
“In response to those increases, the province allocated approximately $77 million in one-time funding to help affected municipalities manage the financial impact. … no comparable support was provided to municipalities operating their own police forces, even though we face the same financial pressures and, in many cases, even greater ones.”
OPP-policed municipalities across the province complained of soaring policing costs after OPP wage increases negotiated in the summer of 2024 contributed to policing bills increasing by more than 20 or even 30 per cent.
LaSalle Police Chief Michael Pearce told council on Monday that he counted 79 municipalities last year whose councils publicly voiced such concerns, constituting around a quarter of the 330 municipalities policed by OPP.
The province responded by pledging the $77 million in relief in November of last year, then announced an 11 per cent cap on cost increases this year.
But capping costs is not an option for municipalities with their own forces, according to Meloche’s letter.
Costs also rising for municipal forces, mayor says
What’s more, communities can apply for provincial policing grants, Meloche wrote. But they frequently have to compete for the funds with OPP-policed communities
The LaSalle Police Service currently receives about $600,000 in provincial grants, Pearce said.
Meloche argued in her letter that OPP salaries set a benchmark for police compensation negotiations across the province, meaning they also impact costs to municipalities that aren't policed by OPP.
In addition, she wrote, the new Community Safety and Policing Act has introduced new training and compliance obligations and equipment standards that local governments must budget for.
Coun. Terry Burns told council Monday he has raised the issue with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario because he believes it’s important.
“Lakeshore, last year ... received $750,000,” he said
“We didn't receive anything. Town of Lakeshore took the $750,000 and reduced their budget so they can claim they're the lowest increase in Essex County.”
Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey said the municipality's subsidy was actually just over $557,000, and it took an additional $250,000 out of its police reserve fund to reduce its tax levy by about $800,000.
The funding disparity puts municipalities with their own police services across the province in trouble, Burns said.
Smiths Falls Mayor Shawn Pankow made a similar call for funding parity in December, telling CBC that his community was facing a 21 per cent increase in policing costs in 2025.
CBC has reached out to the Minister of the Solicitor General for a response to LaSalle council’s concerns.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/ ... -9.6975160
LaSalle Town Council has unanimously agreed to send a letter to the province calling for equitable police funding for communities across the province regardless of whether they are policed by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) or local police services.
Mayor Crystal Meloche told council at its Monday night meeting that the letter is “about ensuring that our municipal police officers and services have the same support as our OPP detachments.”
“Over the past two budget cycles, the province has provided direct relief to OPP-policed municipalities to help offset sharp increases in policing costs,” she wrote.
“In response to those increases, the province allocated approximately $77 million in one-time funding to help affected municipalities manage the financial impact. … no comparable support was provided to municipalities operating their own police forces, even though we face the same financial pressures and, in many cases, even greater ones.”
OPP-policed municipalities across the province complained of soaring policing costs after OPP wage increases negotiated in the summer of 2024 contributed to policing bills increasing by more than 20 or even 30 per cent.
LaSalle Police Chief Michael Pearce told council on Monday that he counted 79 municipalities last year whose councils publicly voiced such concerns, constituting around a quarter of the 330 municipalities policed by OPP.
The province responded by pledging the $77 million in relief in November of last year, then announced an 11 per cent cap on cost increases this year.
But capping costs is not an option for municipalities with their own forces, according to Meloche’s letter.
Costs also rising for municipal forces, mayor says
What’s more, communities can apply for provincial policing grants, Meloche wrote. But they frequently have to compete for the funds with OPP-policed communities
The LaSalle Police Service currently receives about $600,000 in provincial grants, Pearce said.
Meloche argued in her letter that OPP salaries set a benchmark for police compensation negotiations across the province, meaning they also impact costs to municipalities that aren't policed by OPP.
In addition, she wrote, the new Community Safety and Policing Act has introduced new training and compliance obligations and equipment standards that local governments must budget for.
Coun. Terry Burns told council Monday he has raised the issue with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario because he believes it’s important.
“Lakeshore, last year ... received $750,000,” he said
“We didn't receive anything. Town of Lakeshore took the $750,000 and reduced their budget so they can claim they're the lowest increase in Essex County.”
Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey said the municipality's subsidy was actually just over $557,000, and it took an additional $250,000 out of its police reserve fund to reduce its tax levy by about $800,000.
The funding disparity puts municipalities with their own police services across the province in trouble, Burns said.
Smiths Falls Mayor Shawn Pankow made a similar call for funding parity in December, telling CBC that his community was facing a 21 per cent increase in policing costs in 2025.
CBC has reached out to the Minister of the Solicitor General for a response to LaSalle council’s concerns.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/ ... -9.6975160