Peel Region has long been a beacon of growth and opportunity. However, as our region grows, so too do the demands placed on essential services.
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Nowhere is this more evident than in the state of policing in Peel Region. For too long, critical investments in public safety were overlooked, leaving our residents vulnerable and our officers stretched thin. It is high time to address this systemic underfunding, and I am proud to champion a police budget that begins to right these historic wrongs.
Between 2008 and 2018, Peel’s population surged by 18%, outpacing most other regions in Canada. Yet during this same period, the number of police officers grew by just 13%. This imbalance reflects years of underinvestment in public safety. By comparison, Edmonton, Calgary, and York Region have all made more significant strides in closing the gap between population growth and police resources.
While no city has kept pace entirely, Peel’s position remains dire. Our current cop-to-population ratio is just 144 officers per 100,000 residents, the lowest among major cities like Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, and Calgary, which average much higher ratios.
This shortfall has real consequences. Today, Peel Region is 600 officers behind Toronto on a per capita basis, and this deficit is felt every day. Police often cannot respond to every 911 call, leaving residents unprotected during emergencies such as home invasions and violent domestic incidents. It is unacceptable that in a region that has declared a gender-based violence epidemic, we cannot send officers to every related call. Disturbingly, more than one woman is strangled every day in Peel, a tragic statistic that underscores the urgency of this crisis.
Violent crime continues to rise at an alarming rate. Between 2023 and 2024, home invasions spiked by a staggering 306%, while shootings increased by 80%, and carjackings surged by 51%. Organized crime has become increasingly sophisticated, exploiting regional disparities in law enforcement capacity. These criminals know where police resources are stretched thin, and Peel’s underfunding has made it an attractive target.
Over half of arrests in the region involve repeat offenders, and illegal firearms are seized almost daily — most of them trafficked from the United States. This is not just a local issue — it is a systemic threat to public safety across the Greater Toronto Area.
Peel’s position as a major logistics hub and home to Canada’s busiest airport only heightens the stakes. We cannot afford to let our policing capacity lag while population growth continues to soar. By 2025, with the proposed addition of 300 officers, we will begin to close the gap. However, even this is only a partial solution, limited by the capacity of the Ontario Police College. It will take sustained investment to achieve parity with other major urban centres, where residents enjoy faster response times and more comprehensive policing.
Critics often point to the cost of these investments. But the question we must ask is: What is the cost of failing to act? Without adequate policing, Peel risks becoming a haven for organized crime and a place where residents no longer feel safe in their own homes. A well-resourced police force is not a luxury — it is a necessity for economic growth and community well-being. Businesses and families choose communities where safety is a guarantee, not a gamble.
The failures of past administrations have left us in a precarious position. For a decade, from 2008 to 2018, Peel approved new housing developments without any corresponding increase in police funding. This oversight has left our region playing a dangerous game of catch-up, and the consequences are plain to see. I am livid that this historic underfunding crisis was allowed to occur, and I am committed to fixing it.
Investing in Peel police is an investment in Peel’s future. By addressing the officer deficit, we can protect our residents, deter organized crime, and ensure that every emergency call receives the response it deserves. As mayor, I am determined to ensure that Peel Regional Police have the resources they need to make our region as safe as any other in Canada.
— Patrick Brown is the Mayor of Brampton