Police Budget

Thank you for sharing your comments Carol. During the budget committee last week, I made a point to thank our officers in 51 Division because I believe they serve us well and agree that they are stretched thin and in too many directions. During the election, I heard from several residents, BIAs, and small business owners in our ward that they would like to see more police presence to mitigate incidences of violence and burglary. The $48.3m investment in the Toronto Police Service, with 28 new officers being allocated in the downtown, means that the perception of safety may increase in some communities due to the increase in staffing intended by this budget increase. However, we must also recognize that the problems our city faces cannot be dealt with through apprehension alone — while more arrests may be made, they will continue to result in a cycle of catch-and-release. Until the Provincial and Federal Governments heed our calls for help with funding mental health and addiction recovery services, the root causes of violence and safety will not be adequately addressed.