As budget day looms, Region of Waterloo councillors share thoughts on ask from police for more money

Region of Waterloo councillors are expected to pass the 2022 budget on Wednesday, but there's a question hanging over the proceedings: What will happen with the police budget?

The Waterloo Regional Police Service asked for a $12.4 million increase for next year in order to hire 35 new officers, a draft budget approved by the police services board.

But when the proposal went to council for public debate last week some community members called on politcians to reject an increased police budget — and put any increased funding to outreach and mental health services.

The draft budget will go back to the police services board Wednesday morning for any final changes, before going to council that night. Council can either approve or reject it, but cannot change line items in the police budget, according to the Police Services Act.

To find out where representatives stand on the issues, CBC Kitchener-Waterloo emailed the regional chair and all councillors the same questions about how they plan to vote and why. Their responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Name: Karen Redman

Title: Regional Chair, chair of the police service board

Do you plan to vote in favour of the increased police budget on Dec. 15?

Redman noted the police service budget won't be finalized until until it goes before the police services board again on Dec. 15 — but she said she supports more funding for the police service.

She also said she supports investments made "in the areas of acceleration of affordable housing, improving the social and economic health and well-being of First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities, African, Caribbean and Black communities, building capacity for climate action, supporting local economic growth and modernizing public services to our 630,000 residents."

What did you take away from the public meeting — and your constituents — about the police budget?

Redman said she was "very pleased" at the level of public engagement during the budget process.

"As municipal leaders, we're extremely lucky to live in a region where residents are this engaged and knowledgeable about their community, its challenges and its potential. It allows us to make better decisions that reflect the priorities of residents," she said an in email.

Name: Elizabeth Clarke

Title: Regional councillor, Kitchener

Do you plan to vote in favour of the increased police budget on Dec. 15?

Clarke said she can't anticipate what the final budget ask will be from police "however, I would not have voted for the budget that was initially recommended by the police services board."

Many delegates spoke about reallocating some of the police funding to outreach services and mental health. Do you agree with that approach — and why? 

"Inherent in the word 'reallocation' is the assumption that not only must money be invested in preventative and supportive services, but that that money must be matched by equivalent – or greater – reductions in police funding ...  I don't agree with that," Clarke wrote.

She said she believes in the need for police reform. The longer-term impact of that reform, combined with more spending on outreach services, "may result in reduced reliance on policing ...  and potentially savings in police spending."

But the region is not at that point yet, she said, noting an increase in calls to police. 

"I think the experiences of many municipalities in the U.S. that defunded their police forces last year, only to experience significant increases in violent crime leading them to re-fund their police forces a year later (as Oakland, California did, just this week), should be cautionary.

"It takes time for [outreach and affordable housing] investments to pay off."

What did you take away from the public meeting — and your constituents — about the police budget?

Clarke said it was clear delegations at Wednesday night's public input meeting had a united message but noted "this is, in fact, a matter on which the larger community is very divided."

"We know that people who come out to speak publicly at council meetings are only a very small sample of the population the region has a duty to serve and their views aren't necessarily universal," she said. "Like other councillors, I also hear regularly from many constituents who are asking for more policing in their neighbourhoods – not less — and some of those constituents identify as members of racialized communities."

What do you want the public to know about your thought process or decision about the police budget?

"I do believe we need police reform, and I do believe we need to increase our investments in preventative measures that address the root causes of crime. I do believe the costs of policing are escalating at a rate that's unsustainable, both fiscally and socially," Clarke said.

"And while I wouldn't have supported the budget that the police services board originally presented to committee, I don't believe the time is right for defunding of police. I believe we have a lot of groundwork to do, first."

Name: Jim Erb

Title: Regional councillor, Waterloo

Do you plan to vote in favour of the increased police budget on Dec. 15?

Erb said he'll make his decision on how to vote on Wednesday.

Many delegates spoke about reallocating some of the police funding to outreach services and mental health. Do you agree with that approach — and why? 

"My first priority is making sure all residents of Waterloo region feel and are safe," he wrote.

"We have made a significant [investment] in the budget to other services in the region that address outreach services and other priorities to address the social determinants of good health."

What did you take away from the public meeting — and your constituents — about the police budget?

"While the majority at the public meeting on December 8th spoke in favour of reducing the allocation to [police], I have also heard from many in the community who support the current request presented to council."

What do you want the public to know about your thought process or decision about the police budget?

Erb said he will make his decision "based on the well-being and safety of all residents in Waterloo region and carefully consider the feedback I have received from all constituents.

"Again this year we heard passionate arguments from delegates to provide less funding to [police]. As a councillor, I need to balance the information I heard [from delegates] and other correspondence from constituents with the other input from residents who want the WRPS budget to be funded ... because of the increased demands that are being placed on police."

Name: Sue Foxton

Title: Mayor of North Dumfries

Do you plan to vote in favour of the increased police budget on Dec. 15?

"No, I will not vote in favour of the police budget," Foxton said.

"As I stated at regional council when Chief Bryan Larkin presented [the draft budget]: Policing is broken and it needs to be re-evaluated and redesigned to meet the needs of the communities."

Many delegates spoke about reallocating some of the police funding to outreach services and mental health. Do you agree with that approach — and why? 

"I agree with the approach but I am not sure of the legalities under the Municipal Act," Foxton said.

"We do not have jurisdiction over the police budget. I am hoping that a 'no' vote will send a message to the police board but more so to the province that policing has to change. Yes, I am for spending funds on upstream programs such as outreach and mental health."

What did you take away from the public meeting — and your constituents — about the police budget?

"It is not just last night or previous night's where the message is coming from, it is in my township where policing is non-existent, where an officer, when coming to the scene of a break-in says, 'Well, it is happening everywhere,' which means they have given up, policing is broken.

"The public has lost faith in the police," Foxton said.

What do you want the public to know about your thought process or decision about the police budget?

Foxton says she wants police to be "part of the community, work with social services, care about the individual they are dealing with while respecting the victims' rights."

"I need policing, not guns ablazing," she said. 

"Maybe I am asking too much of the police and that some of their duties should be removed and covered by social programs and for minor instances by bylaw. We can do better; we must do better," she added.

"It is not an 'us and them' situation but an 'all of us' situation," she wrote. 

"I don't have the answers, but when caring people sit around and discuss, dream and plan, amazing things happen. It is time."

Name: Tom Galloway

Title: Regional councillor, Kitchener

Do you plan to vote in favour of the increased police budget on Dec. 15?

Galloway said he couldn't answer this "until we know what scenario the [police board] approves next Wednesday."

Many delegates spoke about reallocating some of the police funding to outreach services and mental health. Do you agree with that approach — and why? 

"It's all taxpayer money. I agree we need to invest more into upstream initiatives," Galloway said.

What did you take away from the public meeting — and your constituents — about the police budget?

"There is a growing realization in the community that we can not police our way out of crime," Galloway said. "Investments in upstream activities is best".

What do you want the public to know about your thought process or decision about the police budget?

"I want to invest in measures that will reduce demand on police and that will deal with social determinants of health that will improve human outcomes and reduce criminal justice and health-care systems interactions," he said.

Name: Dave Jaworsky

Title: Mayor of Waterloo

Do you plan to vote in favour of the increased police budget on Dec. 15?

Jaworsky said he does not forecast his votes and is waiting for the budget request to be finalized.

Many delegates spoke about reallocating some of the police funding to outreach services and mental health. Do you agree with that approach — and why? 

"At regional council, we have direct authority to allocate funding to important equitable services, and we are doing that in this budget. We do not have direct insight into the workings of the police budget," he said.

What did you take away from the public meeting — and your constituents — about the police budget?

"The input from the public meeting is supplemented by input directly from constituents, with a variety of viewpoints to consider," Jaworsky said.

What do you want the public to know about your thought process or decision about the police budget?

"The [police] chief provided a lot of compelling information on how to improve service levels in 2022, as we are a growing community, and resourcing issues that cause delays," he said.

Name: Helen Jowett

Title: Regional councillor, Cambridge

Do you plan to vote in favour of the increased police budget on Dec. 15?

"I intentionally reserve my decision for the actual vote until I have heard all the information. We are awaiting the final submission from the Waterloo Regional Police Services."

What did you take away from the public meeting — and your constituents — about the police budget?

"The exercise of council deliberation is important as we bring all of the varying input information together to assess, debate and share perspectives, so that we are able to bring more effective decision-making through policy," Jowett said.

"I want all residents to know that we are listening. We see delegation as an active listening time and honour it as such."

What do you want the public to know about your thought process or decision about the police budget?

"We are hoping that the results of past decisions and current budget decisions demonstrate commitment that we are doing our best to improve and respect quality of all lives in our region.  We see the 2022 plan and budget as a historic investment in equity," Jowett said.

She noted the region is highlighting efforts to address housing, climate change, economic recovery and sustainable transportation.  

"The police budget, albeit a line item for council, will continue to be part of the discussions right up until final budget day," she said.

Name: Karl Kiefer

Title: Regional councillor representing Cambridge

Do you plan to vote in favour of the increased police budget on Dec. 15?

Kiefer said he plans to make his decision on the police budget on Dec. 15.

"I never make a decision until the actual motion is in front of me," Kiefer said.

What do you want the public to know about your thought process or decision about the police budget?

"The police budget has to deal with salaries, benefits and other provincial related contracts so it is very difficult to reallocate funding. I do know that the police have provided and will continue to assist in outreach services and mental health issues," he said.

He said he felt like many delegations who spoke before council Wednesday night "did not have all the facts correct."

"I will as always do my best to be transparent and fair and have a balanced decision," Kiefer said.

Name: Kathryn McGarry

Title: Mayor of Cambridge

Do you plan to vote in favour of the increased police budget on Dec. 15?

McGarry said she will make a decision on Wednesday.

Many delegates spoke about reallocating some of the police funding to outreach services and mental health. Do you agree with that approach — and why? 

"Without a question, we need to continue to invest heavily in outreach services and mental health supports and shift our approach to dealing with those who are experiencing mental health or addictions challenges," McGarry said.

She noted the region has many programs that support that, including in Cambridge, where the city and region are moving toward establishing a consumption and treatment site, "which will ease police pressures and involvement in overdoses."

"We also need to recognize we're a large region with many complex policing pressures. It's about balancing community safety needs across the region and continuing to invest in and advocate for further outreach and mental health supports at all levels, which in turn remove police involvement in certain situations," McGarry said.

"I don't know that it's a one or the other approach. I will consider all the communication, delegations and look to the final WRPS budget, in order to make my decision."

What did you take away from the public meeting — and your constituents — about the police budget?

"That this is a caring community and those who elected us are involved and engaged in this process," McGarry said.

"There are voices on all sides; some calling for decreased police response times when they put in a call for service and many delegates seeking a reallocation of funds from the WRPS budget," she added.

"Overall, we need to hear from our community when making these decisions and take a look at the big picture. I hope these conversations continue as we are always reviewing ways in which we can support our community."

Name: Joe Nowak

Position: Mayor of Wellesley

Do you plan to vote in favour of the increased police budget on Dec. 15?

"I will reserve my decision on a vote until we have what, I suspect will be, a robust discussion at council on final budget day."

Many delegates spoke about reallocating some of the police funding to outreach services and mental health. Do you agree with that approach — and why? 

Nowak said he listened "with interest" to people who spoke at council, and also reached out to council by email or letters.

"I appreciated the passion and courage it took to bring their perspective to a council that, for some, may appear to be detached and unsympathetic. This council is anything but. Our challenge is to find a balance that addresses the needs of 630,000 residents."

What did you take away from the public meeting — and your constituents — about the police budget?

"My sense from hearing the concerns and comments for the rationale for opposing the budget increase is that many do not fully comprehend the challenges facing police," Nowak wrote.

"In 2020, WRPS used naloxone 48 times and have saved 140 lives in this community since 2018 — and likely more to this date. Cybercrime is on the rise. The criminal element becomes more sophisticated daily. Gun violence has become a regular occurrence."

What do you want the public to know about your thought process or decision about the police budget?

"From a rural perspective, we are not immune to criminal activity," Nowak said.

He noted two people were recently arrested in the township for drug and firearm related charges. There's also been an increase in vehicle thefts, break-ins, vandalism and speeding drivers.

"We need more police presence, not less," he said.

Name: Sandy Shantz

Title: Mayor of Woolwich

Do you plan to vote in favour of the increased police budget on Dec. 15?

Mayor Shantz said Larkin is still reviewing the budget request, so she will wait to see what the final proposed budget is before making any decisions.

Many delegates spoke about reallocating some of the police funding to outreach services and mental health. Do you agree with that approach — and why? 

She said she heard the delegations ask for more funding for upstream initiatives to prevent crime and to freeze funding for the police service.

"What I didn't hear was what services do they want frozen or reduced?" she said.

"I appreciate and agree with the value of investing in upstream initiatives, Shantz wrote. 

"The reality of this kind of cultural change is that we will operate with two systems for a period time as we transition. It is expensive, but until we have, for example, a mental health system that has the resources to respond 24/7, we cannot ask the police not to respond to those calls.  There are many calls where police have saved lives."

What did you take away from the public meeting — and your constituents — about the police budget?

"I heard from many delegates that they are looking for a new social model and that will take buy-in from the entire community to implement. We are working toward that new model. I appreciate the thoughtful delegations and the need for change.," she said.

"It will likely take another generation to fully realize that goal. I believe in the need for change, but need to weigh the cost of the changeover with the need to support our residents and keep them safe. The transition will be a challenging time."

What do you want the public to know about your thought process or decision about the police budget?

"I am trying to get a better understanding of the financial trade-offs that have already been done in the last few years," Shantz wrote.

She noted the region is heavily investing in a housing first strategy and has asked regional staff to provide a summary of upstream initiatives "so I can put in perspective those initiatives taken alongside the reduced requests for staffing that police services have made in the last couple years."

But, she also noted, crime is increasing in the region as are calls for police service and Larkin has indicated the service needs more officers.

"The police services also provide about $10 million in services that support other regional initiatives like emergency communications. If we remove that from the police responsibility, it won't change the tax bill as other regional entities will pick them up. And it won't change the work the police services are doing on the front line."

Name: Berry Vrbanovic

Title: Mayor of Kitchener

Vrbanovic did not respond before the deadline on Friday, but did send an email to CBC K-W on Sunday with a copy of a motion he plans to bring forward to regional council.

An updated budget figure in the agenda for Wednesday's police services board meeting showed police Chief Bryan Larkin removed just over $2 million from his original request to council for the 2022 budget.

Vrbanovic's motion recommends using that $2 million that police had initially asked for to create "a regional program of upstream investments beginning in 2022."

Here is Vrbanovic's motion in full:

"Whereas the Waterloo Regional Police Service is presenting a new budget proposal to the police services board in the coming week, and subject to ratification will forward it to Region of Waterloo council so that their 2022 budget request is brought forward in a way that reduces their ask from the region by almost $2.1 million dollars,

"And whereas the Region of Waterloo council has a responsibility to fund a police service and work to ensure a safe community for all residents throughout Waterloo region, 

"And whereas throughout the Budget 2022 process, both as a regional councillor and as a Mayor, I have heard from a range of community members and fellow elected colleagues – with views ranging from those looking towards a strategy of upstream investments to those looking for additional funding of police resources to deal with growing incidents of crime in our community,

"And whereas we know from research, our own past experience in the region and the input of a variety of community partners ranging from the Chief of Waterloo Region Police Service including Chief Bryan Larkin to various not-for-profits working in the justice fields that upstream investments take sustained investments over a prolonged period of time,

"Be it resolved that the Region of Waterloo utilize the almost $2.1 million dollars from the anticipated reduced WRPS ask and reallocate that budget space in the proposed 2022 operating budget towards a regional program of upstream investments beginning in 2022;

"And further be it resolved that the Regional CAO bring back a report by April 2022 with a short-term and long-term program, for utilization of these permanent new dollars beginning in 2022 and over the next 10 years to new upstream investments, leveraging dollars from other partners where possible and which will build on partnerships with social agencies, groups working in criminal justice and our Waterloo Regional Police Service partners to build a safe, socially inclusive and connected community where nobody is left behind."

Coun. Geoff Lorentz, who represents Kitchener, is currently on medical leave from council and said he did not "feel comfortable replying at this time."

Regional councillors were asked to respond by 2 p.m. on Friday. CBC K-W did not receive responses from the following councillors:

• Wilmot Mayor Les Armstrong.
• Coun. Michael Harris.
• Coun. Sean Strickland.