Yet, while the OPS continues to get more money, despite frequently not achieving its main goal, our property taxes continue to rise and we’re told there’s not enough money for things we want – many of which are relatively cheap in comparison to the police budget.

We see that things that actually will keep us safe, like traffic safety measures, addressing climate change, and funding social services that address crime’s root causes are underfunded. For example, councillors have to pay for all traffic calming measures from their own budgets and the City’s entire $2.5 million climate change is less than the OPS spends on overtime. (Way less, as the OPS spends over $9 million on overtime.)

Just to be clear. We’re not calling for a general “defunding of the police” and we’re not saying we don’t appreciate the hard work police do everyday. We do.

We’re just asking the City to fund things that really help us and make us safer.

We’re asking for our fair share. If you want to do the same send your councillor the email below.

The 613-819 Black Hub core group

#OurFairShare

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Dear Councillor XXX,

We’re writing to raise concerns about the City’s budget.

Here in XXX ward, as small business owners and homeowners, we work hard to make sure our businesses and households are run efficiently so we get maximum value from every dollar and provide the best service to our clients. We expect the same from the City concerning our tax dollars, but this isn’t what we see happening.

The Ottawa Police Service, whose 2021 budget increased by $13.2 million to $322 million, receives multi-million dollar increases each year. This continues despite there being no evidence of a direct link between increasing OPS funding and the OPS achieving its main goal: reducing crime and keeping us and our families safe. In fact, available evidence shows that, even when the OPS gets a multi-million increase, crime can go up in the vast majority of wards, as it did in 2018-19.

Yet, while the OPS continues to get more money, despite frequently not achieving its main goal, our property taxes continue to rise and we’re told there’s not enough money for things we want – many of which are relatively cheap.

Here in ward #, we have been trying to get XXX that would cost XXX but have had no luck.

We also see that things that actually will keep us safe, like addressing climate change, are underfunded. For example, the City’s entire $2.5 million climate change plan is less than the OPS spends on overtime.

We’re not calling for a general “defunding of the police” and we’re not saying we don’t appreciate the hard work police do everyday. We do.

We’re asking the City to properly fund things that really make us safer –  like traffic safety measures and the City’s climate change plan.

This year, please vote for a City budget that gives us our fair share.

Thank you.

[YOUR NAME]

Compassion not Cops campaign

On Feb 16, 2021 the Hub launched the Compassion not Cops campaign to raise $25,000 to develop a proposal for an alternative, non-police mental health crisis response system for Ottawa. On June 14, we released the plan called Alternatives for a Safer Ottawa: Non-police mental health crisis response. Developed through consultations with a broad range of community groups, the plan works to build and maintain relationships and trust in communities where there may be a valid fear of existing systems, particularly among Ottawa’s Black and Indigenous communities. The plan proposes response teams with first responders having high degrees of empathy, and skills in de-escalation, listening and non-judgemental communication. It lays out how to implement such a system within a year and recommends the new system be funded from reallocations from the police budget. The plan builds on the evidence that divesting from institutions like the police frees up funding for social and preventative services that actually do reduce crime and keep us all safer. 

The Non-police mental health crisis response for the City of Ottawa report is available on Vivic Research’s website (Executive Summary, full report and detailed strategy).