Smiths Falls to review policing options ahead of 2026 election

Smiths Falls policing costs and alternative service models, including the OPP, will be reviewed

SMITHS FALLS — Smiths Falls council is reopening the conversation around the cost of policing, directing staff to outline what it would take to review alternative service models ahead of the 2026 municipal election.

The move stops short of requesting pricing or making any changes to the town’s current police service. Instead, it asks staff to report back by the end of June with a clear explanation of the process involved in evaluating options, including the Ontario Provincial Police.

Coun. Peter McKenna, who brought forward the motion, said the goal is to better inform both council and the public before policing becomes a campaign issue.

“Quite frankly, I don’t know as an elected official what the process is to actually do anything like that,” McKenna said. “The public have come forward on several occasions, especially at election time or during budget time, asking why we don’t explore other models. I don’t know what that process looks like.”

McKenna emphasized the motion is not about replacing the current service or requesting a cost comparison, but about understanding what steps would be required if council chooses to explore that path in the future.

“We have an obligation to deliver a police service, and we’re doing that with a very good service,” he said. “But we also have a responsibility to do it in the most effective and efficient way possible.”

The discussion comes as policing continues to represent the largest single cost in the municipal budget. A draft resolution notes the estimated per capita cost of policing in Smiths Falls is $675 in 2026, compared to about $362 for municipalities served by the OPP.

Coun. Jay Brennan, who served on council during a previous review roughly a decade ago, cautioned that the process carries significant risk and long-term implications.

“We’ve been through this rodeo before,” Brennan said, noting that under the OPP model, a municipality would receive an initial price for a limited term before costs are reassessed.

“Meanwhile, you disband your force,” he said. “So the force is gone. It’s a really risky thing to do.”

Brennan added that while exploring costs is reasonable, the town should also look internally for efficiencies and ensure the police chief is part of the conversation.

Mayor Shawn Pankow, who sits on the police services board, said any move toward an OPP model would represent a fundamental shift in how policing is delivered in the community.

“There probably will be some cost savings,” Pankow said. “But it would be a whole different model of policing for our community.”

He said the current service provides a level of responsiveness and local connection that may not translate under a different system, but supported the motion as a matter of transparency.

“If it’s going to be an election issue, at least everyone is informed about what the process is,” he said.

Coun. Chris McGuire pointed to the financial pressure facing the municipality, noting policing accounts for roughly 30 per cent of the town’s budget.

“The basic reality is you can’t afford to police a community when you’re spending 30 per cent of your budget on policing,” he said, calling the review a responsible step ahead of the election.

Other councillors stressed the motion should not be interpreted as criticism of the current police service.

“I’m very happy with the policing that we have,” said Coun. Dawn Quinn. “We’re just keeping our minds open and making sure we have all the information we need.”

Council unanimously supported the motion.

Staff are expected to return with a report outlining the process for reviewing policing options, along with the provincial context for engaging the OPP, by the end of June.

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