Mississauga Mayor Resigns From Police Board Over 21% Budget Increase

On November 22, 2024, Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish made headlines with her sudden resignation from the Peel Police Services Board. Citing a proposed 21.3% budget increase for Peel Regional Police as excessive, Parrish explained, “My responsibility as mayor is to all of the citizens of Mississauga... and being constantly aware of the impact those budgets will have on the taxes paid by all our residents.”

Her departure underscores the ongoing tension between public safety funding and fiscal responsibility—a debate that resonates far beyond Peel Region.

The proposed $131.7 million increase would bring Peel Regional Police’s 2025 budget to $749.4 million—a 77% rise over five years. Chief Nishan Duraiappah, the proponent of the increase, argued that it is essential to hire 300 new officers, 10 communicators, and 55 civilian positions.

Critics, however, question the scale of the increase, especially as residents grapple with inflation and economic uncertainty. Parrish’s resignation highlights a growing frustration over what she perceives as limited municipal oversight, a sentiment rooted in the structure of Ontario’s Community Safety and Policing Act, which grants police boards full authority over budget decisions.

???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ????????????

Peel is not alone in seeing dramatic police budget increases. Across Canada, municipalities continue to allocate more resources to law enforcement despite public pressure to rethink these priorities.

In Peel Region, 93% of the police budget is allocated to salaries and benefits, while only 2% is earmarked for policing operations.

For example, after the 2020 “defund the police” movement, many Canadians hoped for a shift in spending toward community services. Yet, as Professor Ted Rutland of Concordia University points out, the opposite has occurred. In Montréal, police budgets rose at an accelerated rate post-2020. Similarly, Toronto’s police budget reached nearly $1.2 billion in 2023—a 46% increase from 1999 when adjusted for inflation.

This trend raises questions about the effectiveness of rising budgets. Research has shown no clear correlation between increased police funding and reduced crime rates. Nevertheless, police leaders frequently point to community perception of safety as justification for more resources, arguing that adequate staffing fosters public confidence.

One of the most striking drivers of police budget growth is salary inflation. In Peel Region, 93% of the police budget is allocated to salaries and benefits, while only 2% is earmarked for policing operations. In Toronto, the average expenditure per officer rose from $161,000 in 1999 to $232,000 in 2023 (adjusted for inflation).

This dynamic is not without controversy. Contract negotiations often spark disputes, as seen recently in Toronto, where stalled talks have led to arbitration. Meanwhile, high-profile salaries—such as one sergeant earning $378,254 in 2023—fuel public skepticism about the sustainability of these increases.

?????????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ????????????????????????????

The challenges of holding police budgets accountable are compounded by legislative frameworks. Parrish’s frustration with the Community Safety and Policing Act reflects a broader struggle: municipalities have little recourse to challenge police spending.

"When we are chiefs of police and crime goes down, we attribute it to our brilliant leadership. And when crime goes up, we attribute it to the government, or to taxes, or to the economy, or to cuts. And the thing is, you can't have it both ways if you're evidence-based." - Alex Murray, National Crime Agency (UK)

This lack of oversight contributes to a growing disconnect between public sentiment and budget decisions. As Dr. Rutland notes, cities often incur additional, unbudgeted police expenses—such as overtime during protests—that further strain public resources.

In her resignation, Parrish signaled a desire to focus on Mississauga’s financial and social needs, leaving police budget decisions to the board. Her choice speaks to a larger question: How can municipalities balance the need for public safety with the financial realities faced by their residents?

Policing leaders, like UK National Crime Agency Director Alex Murray , have acknowledged the complexity of this issue. At a recent Barrie Police conference, he remarked: “When we are chiefs of police and crime goes down, we attribute it to our brilliant leadership. And when crime goes up, we attribute it to the government, or to taxes, or to the economy... You can’t have it both ways if you’re evidence-based.”

Mayor Parrish’s resignation is a wake-up call for policymakers and citizens alike. It challenges us to reexamine how we allocate resources for public safety, who holds decision-making power, and whether those decisions align with community needs.

As cities like Peel, Toronto, and Montréal wrestle with these questions, one thing is clear: the debate over police budgets is far from over.

????????'?? ???????? ????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????? ?????????????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????????????????????????