Sioux Lookout, Pickle Lake and Kenora are joining forces against the high cost of policing.
The three communities say they have the highest OPP costs in the province.
Kenora Councillor Andrew Poirier read a resolution Tuesday that they are sending to the Ontario government.
“Every year since the cost formula’s introduction, the municipalities of Kenora, Sioux Lookout, Pickle Lake have repeatedly attempted to convince the provincial government that the cost formula is unfair and overwhelmed the financial burden on their communities.
Poirier adds, “It is estimated that the municipalities of Kenora, Sioux Lookout, and Pickle Lake collectively pay $30 million more for policing than the average cost paid in other municipalities which the OPP provide these services.”
The three communities say they are hubs for the region and as such have higher policing costs because they attract people from all over the area.
The goal of the coalition is to work with the government to seek some sort of solution.
Kenora Mayor Dan Reynard says they have hired a consulting firm to do some lobbying for them.
“By hiring the group that is going to work on our behalf, that’s their focus. They will pull together the numbers, they will pull together the approach to take. It’s fairly aggressive. I’m optimistic.”
Reynard says all three communities serve a population ten times their tax base and the policing model doesn’t take that into account.
(With files from Tim Davidson)
