The Ottawa Police Service says the federal government will cover all policing costs incurred during the “Freedom Convoy” demonstration in downtown Ottawa this winter.
The price tag for the Ottawa police response to the three-and-a-half-week occupation of downtown Ottawa was approximately $35 million, including money for the RCMP deployment.
Costs included salaries, vehicle expenses, food and hotel accommodations for out of town officers and operation supplies.
In a report for Monday’s Ottawa Police Services Board meeting, staff say the federal government will cover the costs incurred during the demonstration.
“The OPS has been informed by the federal government that it will receive additional funding through its National Capital Extraordinary Policing Costs program to offset all costs incurred by the OPS due to the occupation,” the report says.
City Manager Steve Kanellakos said last month that city staff and Ottawa police have been in talks with federal and provincial governments for funding to cover the police and municipal costs associated with the “Freedom Convoy protest.
Ottawa police received assistance from the RCMP, OPP and several municipal police forces during the demonstration and the operation to remove the “Freedom Convoy” from downtown streets.
The process for the federal government covering the $35 million in policing costs associated with the “Freedom Convoy” demonstration will be finalized over the summer.
CTV News Ottawa has reached out to Ottawa Police Services Board Chair, Coun. Eli El-Chantiry and the office of Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino for more information.
ADDITIONAL OFFICERS FOR EVENTS
The Ottawa Police Service is now taking a more “robust approach” to the planning and deployment of officers for special events following the “Freedom Convoy” demonstration, which will result in increased cost for the service.
There are currently 100 known events planned for Ottawa this year, including one-day events and multi-day events such as Canada Day and the Royal Visit.
“The OPS is building out its Special Events team to have the capacity to meet the workload demand and support its ability to plan and manage events and demonstrations,” says the report for Monday’s board meeting.
“This includes taking a more robust approach to the planning and deployment of police, and surge and sustain capacity to ensure the community is safe and the city remains open.”
Police deployed more officers during St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Sandy Hill, Old Ottawa South, the ByWard Market and Centretown, resulting in an extra $300,000 in costs.
The report says lessons learned from the “Freedom Convoy” demonstration means “increased planning and surge capacity posture” will be required for all events, which could hurt the service’s quest to find $7 million in efficiencies this year.
The Ottawa Police Service is now budgeting an extra $2 million to $3 million for overtime to cover policing events and demonstrations.