Mayor John Tory announced Tuesday that he plans to increase the police budget by almost $50 million this year, a move he said was necessary to keep communities safe, but which immediately sparked opposition from critics who say more officers aren’t the answer.
At a press conference at city hall, Tory said the additional $48.3 million in police funding would represent a 4.3 per cent increase compared to the force’s 2022 budget.
The money will go toward initiatives like expanding the Toronto Police Neighbourhood Community Officer program, and hiring 200 officers, the mayor said.
