Harper breaks promise to hire 2500 police officers

OTTAWA – New Democrat Public Safety Critic Don Davies has joined with representatives from the Canadian Association of Police Boards (CAPB) to demand that the Conservatives keep their 2006 promise to fund 2500 new police officers.

“This week representatives from the CAPB were in Ottawa for the third time to talk to this government and for a third time they were ignored,” said Davies. “They came to Ottawa, because they have an important message to deliver to the government: to simply live up to its 2006 promise and stop backtracking on its pledge to add 2500 police officers to Canadian streets.”

The CAPB represents more than 75 municipal police boards employing in excess of 33,000 police personnel, and has repeatedly called on the government to provide sustainable, dedicated funding for the 2500 officers.

“There is an urgent need for additional police resources in Canadian communities,” said Greg Dionne, President of the CAPB. “But the program offered by the government falls far short of what they have promised. They have backtracked on their commitment to specifically fund 2500 officers, and their monetary commitment to provinces is not dedicated to hiring police officers. Moreover, the funding runs out in five years, making the long-term hiring of police officers impossible for many communities.”

“I stand shoulder to shoulder with the CAPB,” said Davies. “And I join them in demanding the federal government play a leadership role in community safety, fully fund the 2500 officers, and make good on their promise to Canadians.”