Taxpayers' Money

Today, I appeared before the Mayor’s Fiscal Responsibility Panel to discuss how public agencies like the Toronto Police Services Board use taxpayers’ money in a responsible way.

I reiterated the Board’s commitment to being vigilant and responsible with tax funds. I also provided the Panel with background information concerning how the budget process works and the Board’s role in that process. The Board submits its requested budget after line by line scrutiny. It is then the City’s role to approve an overall budget. The City cannot specify reductions or request expenditures.

In establishing our budgets for the coming year, both operating and capital, we are very mindful that every increase in the budget has to be funded by the City.

The old phrase “for every action, there is a reaction” - holds especially true in budgeting for a public agency such as the Toronto Police Service. Every increase in our budget represents a potential increase in the taxes and fees that are being paid by the residents and businesses of Toronto.

COMMUNITY POLICE CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE

Earlier this month, I had the honour of participating in the 11th Annual Community Police Consultative Conference: Creating Opportunities through Youth Leadership in Community Safety.

Engaging youth in community policing is an important component of building genuine police community partnerships. In fact, inclusion of youth in these committees is required by the Toronto Police Services Board’s policy on community consultation. We believe that involving youth in these partnerships is critical for making our communities stronger, healthier and more vibrant. Young people constitute a very important part of our neighbourhoods and communities. I believe strongly, that without their active and meaningful involvement, our effort to build community partnerships will remain incomplete.

Based on the level of participation I observed, the conference clearly gave everybody an opportunity to explore issues of vital importance, and to develop effective methods of problem-solving and decision-making. The issues covered ranged from bullying to cyber culture to community engagement.

Thanks to all of the conference participants and congratulations to the organizers for a very successful conference on a most relevant topic.

A PRODUCTIVE DAY AT BARGAINING

We have just finished our second day of bargaining with the Toronto Police Association.

We spent almost a full day having really good discussions about issues that are important to the Association and the Board.

Much like our first meeting, it was friendly and cordial. It was also productive and set a good tone for future bargaining.

However, we both know that there will be challenges ahead in bargaining, given today’s fiscal realities.

BALANCE

Employers across Canada are facing a new reality – a younger workforce that wants different things from their employers. Much has been written about this generation looking for ‘balance’ in their life. Balance between work and family, balance between work and friends and balance between work and other interests such as travel and studying.

The Toronto Police Service is no different. We strive to continue to be the ‘employer of choice’ for new graduates and to attract the highest calibre of new recruits. We have programmes designed to assist the members of the Service with balance between work and family. Some of the initiatives that have resulted from this include our progressive wellness program and our childcare initiatives.

As well, with our commitment to be an ‘employer of choice’, we believe that the overall package of compensation and benefits that we offer will help them achieve their goals while providing them with the most exciting job in law enforcement in Canada.

BARGAINING

Tomorrow is our second day of bargaining with the Toronto Police Association. We had a very cordial start to bargaining earlier this month and as we start to get into the details tomorrow, I am hopeful that we will be able to move closer to reaching a negotiated collective agreement.

The ideal collective agreement, I believe, is one that is sensitive to the hard work of the members and at the same time respects the life realities of Toronto’s taxpayers by using their dollars wisely.

CRIMESTOPPERS

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending the tribute dinner for Staff Superintendent Gary Grant. Anyone who knows Gary will not be surprised to learn that the evening was full of fun and laughter.

The one point that everyone in the room reflected on was the important place that Gary has within Services’ history. It was Gary, who in 1984 introduced the Crime Stoppers Program to the Toronto Police Service. Crime Stoppers has proven to be a highly successful initiative that provides an impressive volume of useful tips to investigators.

On May 25, 2007 Gary was installed into the Order of Merit of the Police Forces by the Governor General. This award “honours a career of exceptional service or distinctive merit displayed by the men and women of the Canadian Police Services, and recognizes their commitment to this country. The primary focus is on exceptional merit, contributions to policing and community development.”

On behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board we wish Gary a healthy and happy retirement.


Click here to read more about the Order of Merit of the Police Forces
http://www.gg.ca/honours/nat-ord/ormp/index_e.asp

TPS IN THE COMMUNITY

A new store recently opened on the corner of Morningside Avenue and Kingston Road in Scarborough, deep in the heart of 43 Division.

Very shortly after it opened, a friend of mine was there when one of the frontline officers walked in and introduced himself to the women behind the counter. The officers provided their card and said that, as the store was located in their patrol area, if the storekeeper or staff needed anything, they simply had to call the officers.

At that store, on the community bulletin board, was a congratulations card from the Divisional officer responsible for community policing. This card welcomed the business to the neighbourhood and, like the frontline officers, provided a phone number in case the store owner had any questions or concerns.

I believe that a commitment to community policing, where the police officers and the police service are a part of the community, is one of the ways that we will help keep Toronto safe for our officers, taxpayers and tourists.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Today, Chief Bill Blair and I will be participating in the Remembrance Day ceremonies at Toronto Police headquarters.

I have always found the Remembrance Day ceremonies to be very thought-provoking. In particular, right now as we reflect on those who served in both World Wars and those who are serving currently in countries throughout the world.

Members of the Toronto Police Service have been active in the military for many years. We have active Service members in the reserves and on cadet instructor list as well as many former members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Over the years, Service members have been stationed in Cyprus, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan and have worked on domestic operations such as the Ice Storm and the Manitoba floods.

Toronto Police Service members have made contributions to promoting peace worldwide, in accordance with the tradition of Canada as a peacekeeping nation, supporting the cause of democracy and human rights in other countries. I think, for example, of Bosnia and Kosovo and I applaud the Service members who have worked in these areas, a challenging but invaluable undertaking.

This Remembrance Day I encourage you to take the time to reflect on those who have served and are serving and perhaps attend a Remembrance Day ceremony.

Click here to see services throughout the City.

RCMP CONSTABLE DOUGLAS SCOTT

I read with great sadness the stories on the death of 20-year-old RCMP Const. Douglas Scott on Monday. It is always a matter of great sadness when a law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty. That Const. Scott’s life was taken away when he had barely embarked on his career makes us feel the effect of his death more acutely.

On behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, I wish to extend our deepest condolences to Const. Scott’s family and friends.

POLICE RECRUIT GRADUATION

Since becoming Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board in 2005, one of the most fulfilling parts of my role has been to attend the graduation of new officers. With the increased level of staffing at the TPS, these graduations have been frequent and, without exception, there has been Board representation at each ceremony.

Each time I attend one of these events, I am impressed by the diversity of the new officers and their enthusiasm for their new careers.

Our staffing levels at the Toronto Police Service have recently been increased and more officers than ever are out in our neighbourhoods and on our streets. More officers are in uniform and more officers are in their cars, on their bikes and on foot – working to keep Toronto safe for our officers, taxpayers and tourists.