At tonight's Owen Sound City council meeting, Councillor John Tamming gave notice that at the June 29th meeting he will bring forward a resolution to defund the Owen Sound Police services by 30%. Here is the full text of his notice:

WHEREAS across North America, communities are rethinking how and why they police all of the human behavior which they police;

AND WHEREAS much police work involves the addicted, the mentally fragile and the homeless, for whom there simply are not enough social supports;

AND WHEREAS from 2010 to 2020 the police budget has increased by at least 35% to just under $11 million, during which period the cost of living index only increased by 17%;

AND WHEREAS our police expenses are now over 28% of our operating budget;

AND WHEREAS from 2010 to 2020 the population of Owen Sound has remained at 21,000, more or less;

AND WHEREAS from 2010 to 2020 the geographic area of Owen Sound has remained 8 square miles, more or less;

AND WHEREAS from 2010 to 2020 crime has declined substantially;

AND WHEREAS the Owen Sound Police Services Board has proven itself unable or unwilling to seriously reduce any of its spending;

AND WHEREAS city council has proven itself unable to force police services to seriously reduce its spending;
I HEREBY GIVE NOTICE THAT at our next city council meeting held June 29, 2020, I WILL MOVE THAT:

1. City council effectively defund police services by 30% by providing notice to the Owen Sound Police Services Board that it will not approve any future city police budget which exceeds $7,500,000; and

2. City council direct staff to apply those budgetary savings to both tax savings and to enhanced supports for those with addictions, those with mental health challenges and those that are homeless.