ARCHIVE: CANADA 2020/2021
A movement to fight for freedom, liberation & justice.
Canada spends $15.7 billion annually on municipal, provincial, and federal police services. This amount does not include Canadian Security Intelligence Service, railway and military police, government departments enforcing specific statutes in the areas of income tax, customs and excise, immigration, fisheries and wildlife.
Canadian Taxpayers spend $42.9 million per day on policing.
CENTRAL CANADA
GREATER TORONTO AREA
$6.5 Million
in taxpayer dollars are spent on funding the police in the city of Toronto per day.
The Greater Toronto Area contains the City of Toronto and the municipalities of Peel, York, Durham and Halton regions. It is the 7th largest metropolitan area of North America, and the most populous in Canada.
The Greater Toronto Area spends $2.4 billion in taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s $6.5 million per day.
CITY OF TORONTO
The city of Toronto spends just over 25% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of $1.13 billion dollars.
This is comparable to the tax dollars spent on public transportation, the library, children services and public health combined.
Toronto is spending just under $3.1 million dollars per day on police services.
Toronto police are present in some—not all—schools in the Toronto Catholic School Board.
Despite the fact that the Toronto District School Board voted to remove School Resource Officers from schools in 2017, the implementation of that vote did not apply to all schools. The online website for Toronto Police Services 22 Division states that it has two “School Engagement Team Officers” that rotate between several schools in the Toronto District School Board. The Toronto Police Services website also states that there is one school resource officer in 13 Division, located in Little Jamaica. Twenty-two Division and 13 Division have high Black student populations.
PEEL REGION
Peel region spends just over 40% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of $476 million dollars.
This is far more than tax dollars spent on paramedic services, public health, public transit, employment services, and social housing combined.
Peel Region is spending $1.3 million dollars per day on police services.
Police officers are present in every secondary school in Peel Region. The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
YORK REGION
York region spends just under 30% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of just under $360 million dollars.
This is far more than tax dollars spent on paramedic services, public health, public transit, and social housing combined.
York Region is spending just under $1 million dollars per day on police services.
Police officers are currently present in York Region schools, but it is unclear to what extent. The website simply states: “Our Youth Education Officers and School Resource Officers are in schools across the region…” The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
DURHAM REGION
Durham region spends just over 30% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of just under $223 million dollars.
This is far more than tax dollars spent on paramedic services, public health, public transit, and social housing combined.
Police are present in some—not all—schools in Durham Region, but it is unclear to what extent. The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
HALTON REGION
Halton region spends just over 37% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of just under $170 million dollars.
This is far more than tax dollars spent on paramedical services, public health, employment services, and social housing combined.
Police are present in schools in Halton Region, but it is unclear to what extent. The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
HAMILTON
The city of Hamilton spends almost 20% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of just under $175 million dollars.
This is more than the tax dollars spent on public transportation, social housing, parks and recreation and public health combined.
Hamilton police are present in some—not all—schools in the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board and Catholic School Board through the police liaison program.
Police are present in some—not all—schools in Hamilton, but it is unclear to what extent. The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown. In 2020, after significant mobilization from activists in Hamilton, the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board trustees voted to end the SRO program in their schools. The Catholic and French schools have yet to make such a decision.
OTTAWA
The city of Ottawa spends almost 18% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of $332 million dollars.
This is comparable to the tax dollars spent on public health, paramedics, the library, social housing, parks and recreation, and employment services combined.
Every school in the City of Ottawa is currently assigned a specific Student Resource Officer as their personal police contact, according to the Ottawa Police Service Website.
WINDSOR
The city of Windsor spends over 20% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of almost $94 million dollars.
This is comparable to the tax dollars spent on public health, paramedics, fire services, public transit, the library, and social housing combined.
Every school in Windsor has a police presence. The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
GREATER MONTREAL
More Than 17%
of taxpayer dollars on funding the police
are spent in the city.
$1.86 Million
Montrealers are spending daily on policing.
The city of Montreal spends just over 17% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of $679 million.
This is more than three times the investment into shelter and social housing.
Montrealers are spending $1.86 million daily on policing.
Montreal police are present in some—not all—schools in the English Montreal School Board, though it is not clear to what extent. “Agents sociocommunautaires” of the Service de police de la Ville de Montreal regularly visit both English and French elementary and high schools.
LAVAL
The city of Laval spends just over 15% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of $145 million.
This is comparable to the tax dollars spent on public transportation, public health, and the library combined.
LONGUEUIL
The city of Longueuil spends just over 30% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of just over $116 million.
This is comparable to the tax dollars spent on public transportation, and the library combined.
THE MARITIMES
HALIFAX
The city of Halifax spends over 20% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. This includes funds that Haligonians pay towards the RCMP. That’s a cost of over $118 million.
This is more than the tax dollars spent on public transportation, the library, and parks and recreation combined.
Police are currently present in all schools in Halifax. The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
CHARLOTTETOWN
The city of Charlottetown spends over 16% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of almost $10 million.
This is more than the tax dollars spent on fire services, parks and recreation and public transit, combined.
School Liaison Officers are currently present in high schools and junior high schools in Charlottetown. The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
FREDERICTON
The city of Fredericton spends over 23% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of over $23 million.
This is more than the tax dollars spent on fire services and public transit, combined.
Police are currently present in some—not all—schools. School Resource Officers are present in Fredericton and Leo Hayes High School. The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
MONCTON
The city of Moncton spends over 15% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of over $23 million. The funds are delivered to the RCMP.
This is more than the tax dollars spent on fire services, parks and recreation and public transit, combined.
It is unclear from official documents whether the Codiac Regional Policing Authority places police officers in schools.
THE PRAIRIES
WINNIPEG
The city of Winnipeg spends just over 30% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of just under $300 million.
This is more than the tax dollars spent on public transportation and the library, combined.
The current status of the School Resource Officer program for Winnipeg is unclear from official documents. The SRO budget for the 2019-2020 school year was $2.45 million, of which half is funded by the Winnipeg Police Service.
CALGARY
The city of Calgary spends just over 22% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of just over $410 million.
This is comparable to the tax dollars spent on public transportation, shelter and social housing, and parks and recreation combined.
Police are present in every school in Calgary (about 38 police officers for all schools). The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
EDMONTON
The city of Edmonton spends just over 22% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of over $380 million.
This is more than the tax dollars spent on public transportation, the library, and shelter and social housing combined.
Police are present in secondary schools in Edmonton. The School Resource Officer program is currently under review in the Edmonton Public School board. The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
REGINA
The city of Regina spends over 20% of taxpayer dollars funding the police. That’s a cost of $100 million per year.
This is more than the tax dollars spent on fire services and public transit, combined.
Police are currently present in all schools in Regina. School Resource Officers currently have offices located within high schools. The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
WESTERN CANADA
VANCOUVER
The city of Vancouver spends just over 28% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of just under $340 million.
This is more than the tax dollars spent on public transportation, the library, parks and recreation, and transportation/road maintenance combined.
Police are currently present in every school in Vancouver. The School Liaison Officer program is currently under review in the Vancouver Public School Board. The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
VICTORIA
23%
of taxpayer dollars are spent funding the
police in the city of Victoria.
The city of Victoria spends just over 23% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of just under $50 million.
This is more than the tax dollars spent on fire services, the library, and parks and recreation combined.
VicPD allocated over $380,000 in their 2020 budget for three school liaison officers. The program was on hiatus as of 2018 due to budget constraints. Its current status is unclear. The School Liaison Officer Program is currently under review in the Victoria Public School Board.