Proposed $2M increase to Halifax police budget faces public opposition

Halifax's proposed police budget remains unchanged despite opposition from 24 members of the public and hours of debate at the police commission on Monday.

Halifax Regional Police officials are asking for a $2 million increase for a total of $90 million.

The session was the first time residents were given the chance to voice their opinion on police spending. No one who presented spoke in favour of an increase.

Some talked about racism in the force and the 2019 report on street checks, a now banned practice in Nova Scotia where officers documented the race, gender and other details of people they encountered.

"If we're green-lighting an extra two million, what are we saying yes to and what is the real cost to society and my communities?" said Kate MacDonald of Cole Harbour.

The budget was narrowly passed by police commission members and will be presented to Halifax regional council on Feb. 23. Councillors cannot make changes to the budget, but they can reject it and send it back to the commission.

Some members of the public who attended Monday's meeting pointed to the police handling of a homeless encampment in August, where protesters were pepper-sprayed by officers outside the old library site on Spring Garden Road.

"Why would the police do any better if we just keep increasing their budget without scrutiny," said Hannah Man of Halifax. "Now is not the time to do what we have always done."

Several presenters referred to the recent release of a report on defunding the police with three dozen recommendations. It noted Halifax has a higher number of officers per 100,000 people than the national average for municipal police forces. 

"According to Statistics Canada, Halifax is actually more heavily policed than almost any other city in Canada," said Karen Gross, a resident of north-end Halifax who is doing a masters in counselling. "Rather than approving an increase to the police budget, I would like to see funding directed towards non-police social services."

Three women at the meeting said the police and the board have failed to properly deal with gender-based violence and resources should be redirected to non-profit groups that victims of sexual assault can trust.

There were also concerns raised about the lack of details available about police spending, and questions were asked about the cost of lawsuits involving police and the cost of training done outside the province.

Gary Grant, a retired RCMP police officer, asked about money spent on the police that is put in other areas of Halifax's overall budget.

"There's so much that isn't there, I shake my head, I don't know how you can make a proper decision on it, I really don't," said Grant.