A Message from Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General of Ontario Service Over Self to Keep Ontario Safe

Police officers across Ontario are the true embodiment of the phrase “service over self.” Your role requires adaptability to a dynamic work environment while also being compassionate, and upholding the law with courage, integrity, accountability, and respect. This all happens in a workplace where you must expect the unexpected. Your job is tough, yet thousands of officers across this province show up for duty every day with pride and passion.

These days, being a police officer presents a unique set of challenges. But no matter what the world throws at you, you always remain professional. Regardless of what you may be experiencing that day, you all act as the leaders your communities need whenever the moment calls for it. Like all leaders, you require a solid foundation and support. This includes a comprehensive recruitment strategy, world-class training, and state-of-theart technology. It also means having effective and evidence-based mental health support available when they are needed most.

Perhaps the greatest honour of being Solicitor General has been attending March-Past ceremonies. Every graduating cadet can make a difference in the communities they serve. That’s why attracting skilled candidates who exemplify integrity, trust, and dedication is crucial to police services. The labour shortage faced by many services across Ontario makes recruitment that much more important. So we expanded the Basic Constable Training program at the Ontario Police College (OPC) which will now graduate four cohorts per year instead of three. These changes will help us graduate up to 2,000 cadets a year.

This government heard loud and clear from frontline officers and associations across Ontario that there have been times when a great candidate simply can’t afford the tuition fees at the OPC. We believe that if you want to serve your community, money shouldn’t be a factor. So in April, we announced that Ontario will cover 100 per cent of the tuition cost for Basic Constable Training for all new cadets.

Discussions with police association leadership have also taught us that mandatory post-secondary school requirement was another barrier to attracting qualified recruits. Many candidates may want to change their career paths but don’t have the time or money to go to college or university before applying to OPC. We believe that one’s lived experience, professional history, and character can make them uniquely qualified for a career in public safety, as this is as important as any qualification. So we removed the post-secondary requirement for OPC recruits as well.

Police officers, like other first responders, face unique challenges to their mental health. When you clock in, you never know what may happen during your shift. And sometimes, what you experience on the job isn’t easy to leave at the door. Outside of policing, few understand the circumstances officers face daily, and because of this, many officers decide to face these struggles on their own. As one officer once put it to me, “we are the most likely to suffer from PTSI, but the least likely to ask for help.”

Premier Ford and I have said repeatedly that we have your backs. And we mean it, each and every day. I’m proud to say that our government has made some great strides to support wellness programs for police officers.

We have partnered with Runnymede Healthcare Centre to build the Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Centre of Excellence. Two sites, located in Toronto and Caledon, will provide specially tailored treatment for police officers, firefighters, paramedics, nurses, and correctional officers. The first of its kind in Canada, Runnymede will offer wrap-around supports including prevention, intensive treatment, and return-to-work programming. Make no mistake, this issue is personal to the Premier and me. We have made your wellness a priority. And thanks to his leadership, we will ensure that Ontario’s first responders will never have to suffer in silence.

Moreover, we are investing in enhanced mental health services, including support programs to deal with the impacts of work-related stress and impacts on policing personnel and their families. We are also working to develop an online provincewide inventory of regionally available mental health programs to help police associations tap into these resources.

Whether we like it or not, crime exists. There will always be individuals who seek to disrupt public order. And that is why our government has taken bold action to support police services across the province. We are strengthening Ontario’s bail system by investing $112 million to ensure high-risk and repeat violent offenders comply with their bail conditions. In addition, we are fighting auto theft by providing $51 million to help police reduce vehicle thefts and put organized crime rings out of business.

Police officers are the keepers of a sacred trust with the people of Ontario. They uphold the law, keep streets safe, and are incredible advocates for their communities’ needs. I have visited dozens of police services across Ontario and have benefitted greatly from the advice given to me by their officers and associations. It has been my honour to get to know and work with the Police Association of Ontario and especially your president Mark Baxter. His hard work, friendship, and expertise will help us move forward and complete the transition to the Community Safety and Policing Act, the most important update to Ontario’s foundational policing legislation in decades.

I also want to acknowledge all the leaders of the PAO including the local chapters who have given me wise counsel. Together, we will always work with one goal in mind, keeping Ontario safe. My sincerest thanks and good wishes to all.