Toronto won't cut the 2021 police budget, adds $50M for body cameras

Toronto City Council will not be cutting the 2021 police budget by 10%, but did vote in favour of some reforms that could change policing in the city, such as making police wear body cameras at a cost of $50 million over 10 years.

On Monday, Councilor Josh Matlow’s motion which was backed by Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam called for the $1.1 billion police budget to be cut by $122 million and to reallocate savings towards community services — the motion failed by a vote of eight to 16.

Mayor John Tory did not vote in favour.

During the council meeting, Matlow commented on the exchanges with other council members, saying their questions were a “remarkable (and obvious) exercise in political spin and scaremongering. It’s unfortunate.”

The questions some Councillors are asking to undermine defunding the massive police budget by even a minimum of 10%, are a remarkable (and obvious) exercise in political spin and scaremongering. It’s unfortunate.

— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) June 29, 2020

However, Tory’s motion requiring that all officers have body worn cameras by January 1, 2021 passed. Over the next 10 years, the project will cost $50 million.

Matlow said he could not support the motion, due to the additional funding.

“I cannot in good conscience support this.”

And added that studies for body cameras do not prove that there is a substantive effect on safety.

• See also:
  • Toronto to fast track rollout of body cameras for police: Tory
  • Two Toronto city councillors put forward motion to defund police budget
  • Protester sit-in shuts down streets in front of Toronto police headquarters

“Call and email councillors who opposed the measly 10% police budget cut,” the group said on their Instagram page.

Tory’s motion also proposes the development of alternative service delivery models for community safety response, particularly for individuals experiencing mental health crises, which would not involve police officers attending the scene.

This aims to ensure that police are doing police work, and communities are receiving the right response to the issues they are facing.

The motion also proposes a realignment of the City’s budget priorities that focuses on the most marginalized in Toronto, to ensure they have the supports needed to address the root causes of crime.

And, it outlines that any savings or reallocations realized through a review of the Toronto Police service function will be invested back into council-endorsed programs such as: Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit in North America; the City’s Poverty Reduction Strategy; Indigenous-led Poverty Reduction Strategy; and the Immediate Steps to Address Gun Violence Plan.

On Monday, Tory said the City Council demonstrated their commitment to confronting system racism by making significant changes in policing.