The provincial government is investing more than $182 million to replace aging police facilities’ infrastructure with nine new Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachments so communities can continue to receive modern, cost-efficient and high-quality police services essential to public safety.
Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson welcomed the news that a new detachment will be coming to her riding in Clinton. “With today’s rapidly changing world, it’s important for local police forces to have up to date equipment and facilities,” she said. “Clinton is basically in the center of Huron County, so it makes sense for the OPP to have a detachment there.”
Other new detachments will be located in Moosonee, Fort Frances, Hawkesbury, West Parry Sound, Manitoulin Island, Mississauga, Marathon and Orillia and will replace facilities at the end of their useful lifespan.
“State-of-the art facilities that respond to the increasing demands of modern police operations are an important part of keeping communities safe,” said Michael Tibollo, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. “The safety of the public will always be a key priority of our government.”
Equipped with improved amenities that address health and safety issues, the new detachments will remedy inefficiencies due to obsolete design and technology, as well as lack of space.
“Infrastructure modernization projects, including these OPP detachments, are critical to making life better for the residents of Ontario. Infrastructure investments stimulate our economy, create jobs and help to make Ontario competitive again,” noted Monte McNaughton, Minister of Infrastructure.
Bird Construction Inc. (Bird) has been awarded the contract to design, build and finance the new OPP detachments.
“This project allows for the continued renewal of our aging detachments under one major infrastructure project,” said Commissioner Vince Hawkes, Ontario Provincial Police. “This bundled approach to renewing our aging facilities will ensure the OPP continues to provide modern, efficient municipal and provincial policing services to local communities across the province.”
Construction is expected to begin this fall with substantial completion expected to occur late 2020.
