Gananoque to explore cost of switching to OPP policing
Gananoque council will consider taking the first formal step toward determining what it would cost the municipality to replace its current police service with the Ontario Provincial Police.
At its Wednesday meeting, beginning at 5p.m. at Town Hall, council will consider a staff recommendation to request an OPP costing estimate, following Mayor John Beddows’ Mayoral Directive 2026-007 concerning the preparation of the Town’s 2027 operating and capital budgets.
The proposed motion does not commit Gananoque to joining the OPP. Instead, it would ask the provincial police service to provide an estimate that could be used by council to compare the cost of OPP policing with the town’s existing service and other potential models.
Beddows’ directive, issued Aug. 21, calls on the chief administrative officer to lead discussions with neighbouring municipalities and conduct a comparative analysis of options for reducing the impact of policing costs on Gananoque taxpayers.
The directive identifies several options, including maintaining the status quo, entering into an agreement with other municipalities to create a regional police force, and contracting policing services from the OPP.
It also directs staff to determine the full potential cost of converting to OPP service, including upfront conversion expenses, labour and contract costs, and the increased cost of operating Gananoque’s Emergency Services Building if the facility were no longer fully occupied.
The directive states that the ultimate decision about how policing services are delivered remains with council.
According to CAO Melanie Kirkby’s report to council, Police Chief Rich Swann has advised that council must pass a motion requesting an estimate before the OPP can provide a costing for service.
The report recommends council formally make that request Wednesday.
The information would eventually be used to conduct what the mayor’s directive describes as an objective cost-benefit analysis and to establish a “value proposition” for taxpayers.
The review comes as Gananoque prepares its 2027 municipal budget and continues to examine how it delivers core services.
Council’s decision Wednesday will therefore be procedural rather than a decision to replace the Gananoque Police Service. Any future change to policing would require further consideration by council.
Keith Dempsey is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Brockville Recorder and Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.