DRYDEN — City officials continue to work with the province to address policing costs.
Being a hub city between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay, Dryden’s drug crime rates have impacted the number of calls for service for police involvement, which has led to increased costs for provincial police.
“Probably about five years ago, we noticed quite an increase in the drug use in our town and gang activity. Being kind of a hub between Winnipeg and Thunder Bay, that's caused us a lot more concern and issues. So, they've pledged to help us and to help to see that crime rate come down in Dryden,” said Mayor Jack Harrison.
Back in January, a pre-budget report for provincial police services had an estimated cost of $1,393 per property in 2023.
Since then, Dryden council has been looking for ways to bring down that cost, including asking Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner for additional help. Dryden’s council asked the Ministry of the Solicitor General for 35 per cent OPP cost formula over a three-year period
Conversations between the City of Dryden and the solicitor general about bringing relief to the city began shortly after the report was brought to Council.
Months later, those conversations are still ongoing.
“We're continuing negotiating and they're really aware of our situation here. Dryden is fairly unique even in the Northwest. We have some of the highest costs in the province. We've always been a high cost for many years even with our municipal police force. But now with the transition to the OPP, the costs are still high, but we have a very effective police force to deal with the change in the crime rate. So, we're asking for some relief from the province at least until we can get the effect of the OPP to bring down the crime in our area,” said Harrison.
Harrison hopes that once the OPP can effectively address gang activity in Dryden, the cost of policing will go down because there will be fewer calls for services on gang and drug-related crimes.
The city is planning to begin evaluating its 2024 budget over the next few months, and Harrison acknowledged that OPP police costing is a top priority.
“It's affecting our municipal budget. It affects our infrastructure costs and we'll be discussing this more as a council during our budget process over the next month. So, stay tuned for that,” said Harrison.
