$170M price tag for new Sudbury police headquarters prompts debate on city's priorities

The discussion about new headquarters for the Greater Sudbury Police Service has been going on for years, but the project's estimated $170-million cost was only made public recently.

The news came on the heels of the approval of major municipal infrastructure projects like the $200-million arena and the $65-million cultural hub.

It also came in a context where the city is anticipating making cuts of about $7 million to its programs and services to avoid having to increase the tax levy by 7.3 per cent this year.

These developments have fuelled calls to divert funds away from policing services.

For some, it boils down to concerns over higher taxes, while others argue the money could be spent better elsewhere specifically in housing that could help address mental health and addiction issues.

Petition aims to 'start a dialogue'

When Greater Sudbury resident and social services student Frankie Krauss came across the estimated $170-million price tag for new police headquarters, they launched a petition.

"I'm hoping this will start a dialogue," Krauss said. "If the city is going to dish out $170 million towards anything, I think they could find a way to support community organizations."

They argue that the GSPS has seen its budget increase significantly over the past few years, going from $63 million in 2020 to a projected $83 million in 2025.

Police have used the additional money to hire more constables and specialized staff, in order to respond to a growing number of calls for service, some of which involve mental health and addictions.

The petition started by Krauss argues that what would be spent for new headquarters should go to housing programs instead.

"If there were more adequate mental health services, that would probably reduce the number of calls [police] are getting," said Krauss.

The collective Black Lives Matter Sudbury has endorsed the petition in a campaign it calls Homes Not Handcuffs.

"Having more police does not equate to a safer community," said chair Ra'anaa Ekundayo.

"We need to put resources into other things, like mental health, food programs and supervised consumption sites."

Ekundayo says that even if these services are the provincial government's responsibility, it shouldn't be "an excuse for the municipality to turn a blind eye and focus on policing."

The collective has long advocated for cuts to policing in favour of community programming.

"We are a community. We keep ourselves safe," saidEkundayo

"It's difficult for us to be in rooms with these change makers sometimes," they added. "It's...clear our voices are not being heard."

Mickey McIntosh, Greater Sudbury resident and landlord, says he wants city council to avoid approving additional long-term infrastructure projects for the time being.

"I understand police want a more centralized location, but with the money we've already borrowed for the arena and other projects, I feel they can make do with what they have."

"I feel this is too much debt for us to take on right now."

Existing facility is crumbling, says Sudbury Police Association

Matt Hall, president of the Sudbury Police Association, says the current police headquarters are starting to fail. He says the water there is contaminated with lead and electrical issues affect servers and day-to-day operations.

"This year we've had two catastrophic floods," he said. "We need a building that's going to be suitable for the demands that policing places on it."

As for the idea that money for new police headquarters would be better spent on programs that attempt to prevent crime, Hall says prevention is also part of the police's work.

He says officers work with community groups, connect people to services and provide resources to the youth.

"Enforcement is one part of policing. It's not the entirety," he said.

Hall says that all indicators currently suggest Greater Sudbury's population will grow in years to come, and so will demand for policing services.

He says he understands new headquarters "are going to cost the community," but says he's also hearing people "want more police presence in their neighbourhood" and improved facilities are an important part of delivering on that.

Council could explore alternatives

In an interview with Radio-Canada, chair of the GSPS board Al Sizer said the cost estimate of the new headquarters project will soon make its way to council.

"We'll be speaking with the council to see if there's a will and a way to come up with that $173-million," he said.

He says the city has programs that aim to address homelessness issues and mental health, pointing to the 40-unit transitional housing project funded by city tax dollars.

"We just purchased a building downtown which gives us an extra 26 beds," he pointed out. "There's gaps and needs but we are addressing that."

He says discussions on how to fund new headquarters will probably happen during the 2026 budget deliberations.

He says if the proposal ultimately gets turned down, the board will look at other options in the police's four operating campuses.

He says additional places created at Tom Davies Square through the cultural hub project may also "lessen the immediate need for a new facility."

"My position is that the [headquarters] are more of a need than a want, but it's rough," he said.

"We understand the taxpayers' position also. It's a fine line we have to walk."