Smiths Falls staff council is taking a first step toward reviewing how policing is delivered in the community.
Staff will prepare a report outlining how the town would conduct a review of its policing options, along with an overview of the current provincial framework for municipalities considering services through the Ontario Provincial Police.
The move comes ahead of the municipal election, and the motion was put forth by Councillor Peter McKenna.
McKenna clarifies this motion is not seeking a costing for OPP services, but knows this will be an election question and feels it’s important sitting members and candidates should be aware of what the explorative process actually looks like.
Mayor Shawn Pankow, who is Vice-Chair on the Smiths Falls Police Services Board, weighed in.
According to the report, policing through the OPP is estimated at about $362 per person in 2025 across more than 320 Ontario municipalities, while the Smiths Falls Police Service is projected at $675 per person in 2026.
Councillor Chris McGuire, also a council representative on the SFPS board, offered his thoughts.
The town underwent the costing process about 10 years ago and opted to remain with municipal enforcement.
Councillor Jay Brennan said entering an agreement with the OPP is, “a really risky thing to do,” citing contract agreements. The town would have to disband Smiths Falls Police in order for the OPP to oversee the coverage area, but the OPP could re-evaluate the agreement after their contract is up and decide to not renew. Brennan suspects, the OPP could also request a higher budget on a new deal and force the town’s hand into a less-favourable agreement, knowing that the town would be without law enforcement if they said no.
A report is expected back to council by the end of June 2026.
Story by Grant Deme
