The Ottawa Police Department says the federal government will cover all police expenses incurred during the Freedom Convoy demonstration in downtown Ottawa this winter.
The cost of the Ottawa police response to the three-week occupation of downtown Ottawa was approximately $ 35 million, including money for the deployment of the RCMP.
Costs include salaries, vehicle costs, food and hotel accommodation for out-of-town employees and operational supplies.
In a report on a meeting of the Ottawa Police Board on Monday, officials said the federal government would cover the costs incurred during the demonstration.
“OPS has been informed by the federal government that it will receive additional funding through its National Capital Emergency Police Expenditure Program to offset all expenses incurred by OPS due to the occupation,” the report said.
Ottawa Chief Police Officer Blair Dunker told CTV News Ottawa on Sunday that Ottawa police were in “regular communication” with Canadian public safety over funding to cover police costs related to the Freedom Convoy.
“From the beginning of the demonstration to the present day, our Public Safety Canada partners have informed us that we can expect to reimburse all direct costs associated with the demonstration in accordance with the General Terms and Conditions of the National Emergency Police Contract,” Dunker said in a statement. . “The deadline for submitting these costs is July 2022, and the costs are expected to be reimbursed thereafter.”
City manager Steve Canelakos said last month that Ottawa city staff and police were in talks with federal and provincial governments to fund police and municipal spending on the Freedom Convoy protest.
Ottawa police received assistance from the RCMP, OPP and several municipal police forces during the demonstration and operation to remove the Freedom Convoy from downtown streets.
CTV News Ottawa turned to the office of Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino for more information.
ADDITIONAL OFFICE OFFICERS
The Ottawa Police Department is now taking a more “stable” approach to planning and deploying special events after the Demonstration of the Freedom Convoy, which will increase the cost of the service.
There are currently 100 notable events planned for Ottawa this year, including one-day and multi-day events such as Canada Day and the Royal Visit.
“OPS is building its special events team to have the capacity to meet the demand for workload and maintain its ability to plan and manage events and demonstrations,” the board’s report said Monday.
“This includes taking a more robust approach to police planning and deployment, as well as increasing and maintaining capacity to ensure that the community is safe and the city remains open.
Police deployed more staff during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Sandy Hill, Old Ottawa South, ByWard Market and Centretown, resulting in an additional $ 300,000.
The report says the lessons learned from the Freedom Convoy demonstration mean that all events will require “increased planning and growing capacity,” which could hurt the service’s quest to find $ 7 million in efficiency. year.
The Ottawa Police Department is now providing an additional $ 2 million to $ 3 million in overtime to cover police events and demonstrations.
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