Regional Councillor Kaiser brings strong motion
- mmavridis
- Jun 26
- 2 min read
Regional Councillor Andrea Kaiser Takes Action on Policing Cost Inequities Tonight at Regional Council
Tonight at Niagara Regional Council, Regional Councillor Andrea Kaiser will be introducing a motion aimed at addressing a long-standing issue that has affected municipalities like Niagara-on-the-Lake: the unfair distribution of policing costs across the region.
Under the current Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) billing model introduced in 2015, municipalities are charged a combination of base costs per property and variable costs based on service calls. While the model may have been created for simplicity, in practice it has resulted in glaring inequities between communities—especially for smaller, lower-crime municipalities like NOTL.
To put it into perspective:
🔹 In 2024, the average household in Niagara-on-the-Lake paid $786 for policing.
🔹 Compare that to:
• St. Catharines – $316
• Niagara Falls – $373
• Welland – $255
• Grimsby – $458
That’s more than double in some cases.
Councillor Kaiser’s motion calls for staff to investigate more equitable funding options for regional policing, including:
Exploring per-household taxation models rather than assessment-based ones
Using development charges to fund future police infrastructure (e.g., vehicles, stations)
Introducing special levies in high-crime or high-traffic areas that require additional resources
Designating zones for supplementary funding, like downtown areas with enhanced foot patrols
These models are already in place in other Ontario municipalities, including Ottawa, Mississauga, and Caledon, which offer alternative frameworks that better reflect service levels, community needs, and fairness.
“Residents deserve a system that reflects the services they receive—not just the value of their property,” says Kaiser. “This is about modernizing our approach to public safety and ensuring we’re not unfairly burdening communities like Niagara-on-the-Lake.”
This motion represents an important step toward fiscal fairness and smarter planning in Niagara Region. The vote takes place tonight—stay tuned for updates and outcomes.
To read full motion;
Comments