Province refuses to consider letting OPP replace Sault police

Sault Ste. Marie must keep its police service, the Solicitor General’s office says. Council sought had OPP cost estimates amid rising policing expenses.

Ontario’s solicitor general won’t be providing the city with a plan to replace the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service with Ontario Provincial Police.

The city requested a policing resource plan from the province in May, when it emerged that city police were running a significant budget deficit.

The police service said in April that a year-end review revealed a $2.9 million deficit in 2024. And the 2025 budget is already headed for a $1.9 million shortfall.

However, the province said the city should work with its existing police force.

“The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service stands out as a leading example in northern Ontario and I am proud of the dedication its frontline officers have shown in serving and protecting their community for more than 150 years,” Minister Michael Kerzner said in the letter.

“I believe the service remains well-positioned to continue delivering effective, community-based policing to the residents of Sault Ste. Marie ... I have directed the OPP commissioner not to provide the Sault Ste. Marie municipal council with an OPP policing resource plan.”

As a result, a staff report said council has to focus on working with city police. City staff is working with the police services board on adopting recommendations from KPMG, which did a review of police operations.

Skyrocketing costs

The goal is “to improve communication and collaboration between the city and Sault Ste. Marie Police Services, particularly between the finance and human resources departments of the respective organizations,” the report said.

The city will also continue to advocate for more policing funds as costs continue to skyrocket.

“Since 2019, the actual percentage increase for community policing costs has increased 52 per cent,” the report said.

“The Consumer Price Index increase over the same period was 18.9 per cent. This level of increase is unsustainable for a municipality to absorb with current financial resources. The 2024 BMA Municipal Study indicated Sault Ste. Marie has the highest net policing costs per capita for communities with a population between 30,000-99,000.”

Read the full report here.

At the police services board, meanwhile, chair John Bruno and vice-chair Ian MacKenzie resigned July 11. They were replaced by Nuala Kenny as the new chair while Mayor Matthew Shoemaker is the news vice-chair.