Hello:
Recent discussions regarding police and fire service budgets have prompted me to write this letter.
I am not out to cut jobs in the police and fire services. I am trying to save as many jobs as possible without having to consider the use of the OPP or volunteer fire fighters. We need to continue to make sure that we are meeting our legislative responsibilities.
The facts are clear, emergency services are now taking almost 50% of our entire budget, nearly doubled in the last 20 years. All the financial experts tell us that our corporation can’t continue to fund at the present rate.
With respect to the recent issue of options for Council to consider regarding the future of police and fire services, our Administration working cooperatively with the Police Services Board, will have an opportunity to develop plans for modernizing our public safety services.
I firmly believe that a new public safety campus that can accommodate our police, fire, paramedic and by-law services, will save lots of human resource time and money. The new facility needs to be equipped with the latest technology available allowing for flexibility in allocating public safety staffing.
I’m trusting that this letter is in order.
Yours in public safety,
Mark A. MacDonald
Councillor, City of Cornwall
