Hamilton has spent over $1.5M on extra security guards during COVID-19 pandemic
CBC
Hamilton has spent $1,529,216.98 on extra security guards since the start of the pandemic to keep places like city-run vaccine clinics, testing centres, shelter programs and recreation centres safe.
City spokesperson Jasmine Graham told CBC Hamilton it spent $851,000 in 2020 and $678,000 in 2021 in extra costs for guards through its corporate security group.
She said the costs don't reflect security guard services for elected officials, staff members or local hospitals. It's unclear if the city uses private security in those cases.
The over $1.5 million includes some costs for security guards due to people opposed to public health measures, but CBC Hamilton wasn't able to get details on the exact amount related to that.
The figure also includes security guards used across various departments, recreation facilities, parks and museums due to staff working remotely.
Graham said the city used extra security staff in housing department efforts, such as for COVID-19 overflow shelter programs at First Ontario Centre and Bennetto Recreation Centre.
WATCH |Parliament Hill protest is costing Ottawa $1 million per day:
CBC Hamilton's report on the city's security guard costs comes as thousands of people continue a nearly week-long protest in Ottawa against public health measures.
Officials with the City of Ottawa say protests outside Parliament Hill are costing roughly $1 million per day and the mayor is looking at ways to recover those costs, including a potential lawsuit against GoFundMe.
It's unclear how many times other cities in Canada have had to use private security during the pandemic or how much it has cost them.
Beth Gooding, Ottawa's director of public safety service, told CBC Hamilton on Jan. 14 that it has implemented numerous safety measures, such as the use of private security guards, "to ensure the vaccination efforts would be conducted in a safe environment."
At the time, Gooding said threats stemming from people's opposition to public health measures didn't cost the city any extra because it took an "all-hazards" approach when mass vaccination began.
Toronto and the Niagara Region said their cities use local police to provide security for city staff and elected officials.
"This is the approach we have taken with the recent threats to Dr. Hirji, and would be the same for any of our employees," Niagara spokesperson Andrew Korchok said in an email about Dr. Mustafa Hirji, the region's acting medical officer of health.