Hamilton Police Services Board has ordered a staff report on the implications of a number of budget proposals that were put forward by member Cameron Kroetsch in February. Kroetsch had complained that the Police Services Board budget committee of which he is a member was rushed when it considered the current budget, and for that and other statements about the budget process he is currently the subject of a complaint to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.
His motion contained a number of suggestions for cost-cutting, including:
- Merging some departments that are similar to those of the city of Hamilton, including Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, Legislative Support, Legal, Accounting, Information Technology, and Human Resources
- A reserve strategy similar to the city’s
- Changing the ratio of managers to employee from the current 11:1 to be in line with department like fire where the ratio is 66:1 or Hamilton Paramedics 50:1
- Disbanding units like the mounted unit.
Kroetsch is unable to participate in PSB meetings until his matter before the Civilian Police Commission is settled, but Member Anjali Menezes, the recent appointee by council who seconded the motion sounded a conciliatory note, thanking colleagues for allowing the matter to be discussed. She acknowledged that some of the proposals might make some members uncomfortable. Deputy Chair Fred Bennink was the only member who spoke against asking staff to prepare the report saying it was a waste of time.
Mayor Andrea Horwath supported having staff report back on the suggestion, not, she said, because she necessarily agreed with them, but because she saw educational value in a fulsome review of what is possible from a policing standpoint and from a legislative standpoint in the Kroetsch suggestions.
At the end of the meeting Chair Pat Mandy announced she was ending her term as a PSB member, effective April 1 after serving for six years. She is a respected health care leader with more than 40 years of experience in a variety of leadership roles in healthcare, change management, regulatory, governance and educational settings. A member of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Pat retired from the position of Chief Executive Officer, Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network in 2010. She has extensive linkages with the community in a variety of roles, including Past President of the College of Nurses of Ontario, Past Chair of the Hamilton-Wentworth District Health Council, and Past, and current, Chair of De dwa de dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre. In June 2017, Pat was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada.
That’s right, keep sticking it to police and risk negatively impacting their morale and the public’s confidence at a time when crime and safety is now Canada’s number one issue. Yes, you read that correctly….number 1.
If saving money is the objective there are a lot of other places to look at City Hall, including the climate crisis office, bike lanes, two-way street conversions and the train wreck (pun intended) LRT.
Canada has relatively small police forces (RCMP, provincial, city) and their dedicated officers are the only thing standing in the way from the low-life thugs running the show.