Policing Costs: Arbitration – Fact or Fiction?

This letter to the editor is in response to a recent Chamber of Commerce article attributed to policing costs and “a broken Arbitration system” being responsible for escalating taxes in the City.

My first question to the Chamber would be how conclusions came about regarding the Owen Sound Police Service and information was distributed before obtaining all the ‘facts’ from various stakeholders? That in itself is irresponsible as well as alarming.

Generally speaking, if an opinion on a topic is repeated enough times it becomes quoted by other sources as ‘factual’. However, it can be considered misguided to release perceived ‘facts’ without actually speaking with any of the involved stakeholders as the Chamber has admitted.

Locally, as indicated by Chief Sornberger, the Owen Sound Police Service operates on a 2008 budget line, since neither our Police nor civilian personnel are among the highest paid in comparison to any other Service in the Province. As stated, the Service generates about $1.3 million per year in revenue from outside sources. Owen Sound is considered the leader with this innovative approach. Although this ‘contracting out’ comes at the cost of employment to police personnel from other communities, it is considered highly efficient, and prevents property taxes from escalating locally. That is a positive ‘fact’ for the taxpayers of Owen Sound.

Provincially, the Police Association of Ontario, (P.A.O) composed of 34,000 police personnel from every Police Association in the Province, including the O.P.P.A., have been successful in working with the government in conducting a full review of how policing is delivered within the Province. Identifying efficiencies is an absolute priority in all facets of Policing. All stakeholders involved with the Future Advisory Policing Committee (F.P.A.C.) are actively seeking out financial savings to ensure that safe communities are provided across the entire Province at the best price possible. That is a positive ‘fact’ for the taxpayers of Owen Sound.

Federally, the Canadian Police Association, (C.P.A.) composed of 52,000 police personnel from every Police Association across Canada, have been successful in working with the government by participating in a Police Economic Summit, to find the same efficiencies across the country while ensuring safe communities are maintained. That is a positive ‘fact’ for the taxpayers of Owen Sound.

The Chamber claims that “a broken Arbitration process” is responsible for escalating property taxes within the City of Owen Sound. Is this argument based upon ‘facts’?
The position put forward by the Chamber about the current arbitration system is inaccurate and misleading as it relates to Policing in Ontario. Such articles are very quick to blame the arbitration system for local tax increases by claiming Police collective agreements are determined through arbitration.

Arbitration in the Policing context is governed by the Police Services Act, under which a process provides the appointment of a mutually agreed arbitrator or one that is appointed by the Ontario Police Arbitration Commission if negotiations come to an impasse.

In making a decision or award, the arbitrator shall take into consideration all factors it considers relevant, including the following criteria: (Police Services Act, R.S.O. 1990 Section 122 (5))

1. The employer’s ability to pay in light of its fiscal situation.
2. The extent to which services may have to be reduced, in light of the decision or award, if current funding and taxation levels are not increased.
3. The economic situation in Ontario and in the municipality.
4. A comparison, as between the employees and other comparable employees in the public and private sectors, of the terms and conditions of employment and the nature of the work performed.
5. The employer’s ability to attract and retain qualified employees.
6. The interest and welfare of the community served by the police force.
7. Any local factors affecting that community.

Further, over a 10‐year span beginning in 2001, only 38 contracts during that entire period were settled via arbitration, amounting to less than 6%. Conversely, 94% of Ontario’s police contracts over that same period were freely negotiated, locally at the bargaining table. Further, analysis shows that arbitrators are balancing the interests and needs of both sides, as any settlements are in line with what has been freely negotiated during that same period. Bargaining trends in Ontario’s policing sector are working efficiently and effectively based upon the current model. That is a positive ‘fact’ for the taxpayers of Owen Sound.

To date, the Owen Sound Police Services has been in existence for approximately 157 years. During this time, the Police Service has never experienced an Arbitrated settlement for salaries. The primary reason – “a reasonable made in Owen Sound solution” was found each time. That is a positive ‘fact’ for the taxpayers of Owen Sound.

The fact is that Ontario’s Arbitration system is not broken…but rather is rarely used in the policing profession.

Professional Policing provides a kaleidoscope of services to the general public on a 24/7/365 basis and is a unique profession composed of men and women, both police officers and civilian members, who are tasked with interacting with society, whether those encountered are at their very best or extreme worst. Professional Policing is a “catch-all” agency that the general public engages on their behalf and cannot be compared to a corporation where personnel can be laid off simply when shareholders do not recognize 4th quarter profit margins nor is it an industry that manufactures tangible widgets”. Policing is a service composed of Professionals who are the ‘very resource’ of that organization contributing to the fact that budgets in any police agency go towards an efficient

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