Response to OPP Cost Recovery Model, Continued Automated Speed Enforcement Advocacy, and Consultation on Aggregate Resources Act Program

Top Insights 

• The province’s review of the OPP cost recovery model has resulted in new regulatory amendments to municipal payments for OPP policing, but no long-term solutions to growing cost pressures. 

• AMO releases updated resources to support member advocacy on Automated Speed Enforcement. 

• AMO supports efforts to modernize the aggregate management framework with the condition that the province strengthen inspection and enforcement. 
   

Regulatory Amendments Made to Amount Payable by Municipalities for OPP Policing 

Earlier this spring, the Ministry of the Solicitor General conducted a review of the OPP cost recovery model. AMO provided feedback in a letter to Minister Kerzner as part of this review. Recently, the Ministry announced regulatory amendments to Ontario Regulation 413/23: Amount Payable by Municipalities for Policing from Ontario Provincial Police under the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019. The amendments are now in effect and will inform the 2026 annual billing statements, which are expected in November.  

In a letter to impacted Heads of Council, the Ministry has committed to:  

• An 11% cap on the increase in policing costs owed by municipalities for the 2026 calendar year, and  
• Lowering the threshold for qualifying for calls for service and overtime discounts to lower costs for municipalities three or more standard deviations above the average. This new threshold will apply to the 2026 billing year and future years.  

Unfortunately, these changes do not provide a long-term solution to the growing policing cost pressures municipalities across Ontario are facing. In addition, preliminary analysis suggests that very few municipalities will benefit from the lower threshold levels. AMO is reviewing the amendments closely to determine their impact on municipalities and will continue to update our members as we prepare a response to the government.  

AMO Continues to Advocate for Speed Cameras as an Evidence-Based Road Safety Tool  

Last week, the Premier announced that he intends to introduce legislation to prohibit the use of municipal automated speed enforcement. AMO will continue advocating on behalf of the municipal sector that these tools work to reduce speeds and their use should be a local decision.

AMO has updated our communications tool kit to support municipalities in continued advocacy, including a social media toolkit (Images and Canva Templates) a template council resolution, MPP letter, and key messages.  

We will also be sharing a survey with municipalities that have ASE programs to ensure we have the best data available to support evidence-based advocacy.  

AMO Responds to Provincial Consultation on Modernizing the Aggregate Management Program 

AMO has submitted comments in response to the Ministry of Natural Resources proposing to modernize the delivery of the Aggregate Resources Act (ARA) program. The proposal is intended to streamline and provide clarity on requirements of the aggregate management program by updating, combining, and removing outdated and inaccurate policies. 

AMO supports, in principle, efforts to modernize Ontario’s aggregate management framework with the condition that efforts are also taken to modernize and strengthen inspection and enforcement in parallel.