CANADA 2021/2022
A movement to fight for freedom, liberation & justice.
Canada spends $16.5 billion annually on municipal, provincial, and federal police operations.1 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 approximately $45 million per day on policing.
CENTRAL CANADA
GREATER TORONTO AREA
$7.1 Million
in taxpayer dollars are spent on funding the police in the Greater Toronto Area 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 $2.6 billion in taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s $7.1 million per day.
CITY OF TORONTO
The City of Toronto spends close to 25% of taxpayer dollars on funding Police Services, the Police Board, and the Police Parking Authority. That’s a cost of $1.1 billion dollars.
This is more than the tax dollars spent on employment services, shelter and social housing and children’s services combined.
Toronto is spending just over $3 million dollars per day on police services.
PEEL REGION
Peel Region spends just under 30% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of nearly $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.
YORK REGION
York Region spends just under 30% of taxpayer dollars on funding Police Services. 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.
DURHAM REGION
Durham Region spends just over 21% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of $223 million dollars.
This is far more than tax dollars spent on paramedic services, public health, public transit, and social housing combined.
Police are assigned to some—not all—schools in Durham Region as School Liaison Officers. 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 assigned to secondary schools in Halton Region, and make regularly scheduled visits as part of a Youth Engagement program. 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 over $176 million dollars.
This is more than the tax dollars spent on public transportation, social housing, parks and recreation combined.
Hamilton police are present in some—not all—schools in the Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board, the French Public School Board, the French Catholic School Board, and Private School Board through police school liaison and community services programs.
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 10% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of over $332 million dollars.
This is comparable to the tax dollars spent on public health, paramedics, public libraries, social housing, parks and recreation, and employment services combined.
WINDSOR
The City of Windsor spends approximately 21% 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, fire services, public transit, public libraries, and social housing combined.
Schools in Windsor under the Catholic and French School Boards have police assignments. The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
Currently the School Resource Officer program in Public schools has been paused for review.
GREATER MONTREAL
Approximately 11%
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 approximately 11% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of $679 million.
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. As of fall 2022, Montreal police are present in some schools under the “Équipe multidisciplinaire d’intervention dans les écoles” (EMIE), or Multidisciplinary Intervention Team program.
LAVAL
The City of Laval spends just over 12% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of $145 million.
This is close to three times the amount of tax dollars spent on social housing, public health, and public libraries combined.
Police are assigned to select schools in the Laval. The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
LONGUEUIL
The City of Longueuil spends just over 25% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of nearly $117 million.
This is comparable to the tax dollars spent on public transportation and public libraries combined.
Police are assigned to various schools throughout the Longueuil Agglomeration. The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
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, public libraries, 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 just over $10 million.
This is more than the tax dollars spent on fire services, parks and recreation and public transit, combined.
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 assigned to schools in Fredericton as Community Liaison Officers. 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.
Police are present in some schools under the Francophone school board in Moncton as part of a program initiated by the Codiac RCMP. The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
THE PRAIRIES
WINNIPEG
The City of Winnipeg spends just over 15% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of just under $301 million.
This is more than the tax dollars spent on public transportation and public libraries, combined.
Police are currently assigned to all schools in Winnipeg. The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
CALGARY
The City of Calgary spends approximately 11% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of just over $411 million.
This is comparable to the tax dollars spent on public transportation and shelter and social housing, 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 15% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of over $389 million.
This is more than the tax dollars spent on public transportation and public libraries, combined.
Police are present in Catholic 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 almost 15% 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 21% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of nearly $341 million.
This is more than the tax dollars spent on fire services, public libraries, parks and recreation, combined.
As of January 2023, the Vancouver School Board has voted to reinstate School Liaison Officers, although no determination has been made as to what role they will play and when they will be reinstated. The amount that this represents in the police budget is not clearly stated, and currently unknown.
VICTORIA
Just under 24%
of taxpayer dollars are spent funding the
police in the City of Victoria.
The City of Victoria spends just under 24% of taxpayer dollars on funding the police. That’s a cost of just under $60 million.
This is more than the tax dollars spent on fire services, public libraries, 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.
1 As reported by Statista.
