Ontario to expand police training and recruitment, this time for smaller forces
CBC
The province is expanding the Ontario Police College (OPC) to make room for 80 new cadets yearly in an effort to ease staffing shortages for smaller police departments, the solicitor general announced Wednesday.
Michael Kerzner was accompanied by Conservative MP Rob Flack, the leaders of both the Police Association of Ontario and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, and local police officials on Wednesday at the OPC's Aylmer training facility.
The newly opened training spots, which are expected by 2025, will be reserved for small, medium and First Nation police services, according to Kerzner.
"To keep the communtiy safe, we need boots on the ground," said Kerzner. "We're working to build capacity block by block. We're laying the foundation for a safer Ontario, and we're doing this in concert with municipalities, First Nations and police services across Ontario."
In recent years, the province has made a number of changes to training and recruitment in an effort to bring more officers into the profession, including:
Police departments across the province have reported waning interest in open positions, signalled by lower numbers of applications.
According to Kerzner, the change announced Wednesday and previous changes made since 2022 will bring the total number of potential training program graduates annually from 1,440 in 2022 to 2,080 in 2025.
It's unclear how much the expansion will cost and if it will require upgrades at the police college. Kerzner wasn't able to provide a cost estimate when asked, but said the investment will be well worth it.
A spokesperson from Kerzner's office told CBC News a cost estimate will be shared soon.
"It's a serious investment that the government has made specifically because we realize when we put more boots on the ground, communities are safer," Kerzner said.
As for the spots being prioritized for small, medium and First Nation police services, Kerzner said the move will ensure the OPC is better able to provide spots for remote communities as well.
Mark Baxter, president of the Police Association of Ontario, said he supports the move.
The Brantford police officer said communities like his have unique challenges that require adequate staffing for them to be met.
"Today's announcement ... is a clear recognition of the growing needs of police services across the province," Baxter said. "For services in smaller and medium-sized communities, as well as First Nations police services, this initiative is a game changer."