Location unknown, amalgamation of some current OPP stations a possibility
MANITOULIN—The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services announced last week that Manitoulin Island has been chosen as one of nine locations to receive a new Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachment as Manitoulin has been deemed to have police buildings that have reached the end of their “useful lifespan.”
The funding for the new detachment is coming as part of phase two of the OPP modernization project. Under the first phase of the project, Ontario replaced 18 detachments, its regional headquarters and forensic identification services with 17 new facilities in 16 communities across the province. The other eight communities that will see new detachments are: Moosonee, Fort Frances, Hawkesbury, Huron County, West Parry Sound, Port Credit, Marathon and Orillia.
“I know that the OPP and Infrastructure Ontario are doing a lot of work to identify locations, and while we can confirm that a new detachment will be built on Manitoulin Island, details regarding specific stations will be available when environmental assessments and an open-competitive procurement process is completed,” Yanni Dagonas, press secretary for the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, David Orazietti, told The Expositor in answer to questions about which of the Island’s four detachments will be replaced. “We anticipate this to be completed in late 2017 or early 2018. This will include design, build and financial aspects.”
“There is no community in mind,” reaffirmed Manitoulin Detachment Commander Staff Sergeant Webb. “As part of the second phase of the OPP modernization plan, we have been identified, but that’s as far as it’s got.”
The funds have been made available, it’s now a matter of finding a suitable spot, the staff sergeant added. “This has been on the books since not long after I got here. It’s not OPP-driven, but by the province—they do a lot of the preliminary work unbeknownst to me, or my command.”
“There’s no discussion at all at this point about any closure of detachments,” Staff Sergeant Webb added.
Staff Sergeant Webb said he has plenty of ideas on how to make this work for all of Manitoulin, but that there needs to be meaningful conversations “about what’s important to the community and policing.” He gave the scenario of all four detachments in one building, or two detachments in one building with two community ‘storefronts’ as just a couple of examples of what might be explored.
“It’s good news,” he said.
The staff sergeant assured the public that the community will be well informed throughout the process with public consultation sessions to be had when the time comes.
As for how the Espanola detachment falling under the Manitoulin umbrella, as has been discussed in recent months, might fall into this, Staff Sergeant Webb said it could be a slight indication as to where the administration would be (on Manitoulin).
“I have no plan on moving my location,” he added. “This is my home detachment and I plan to be here.”
