The Ontario government is establishing a new Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachment at Ontario Place, a move that coincides with the force preparing to take over policing duties on two of Toronto's busiest highways.
In an announcement on Friday, the province confirmed it has started the search for a company to design and build the new police facility on the east island of the provincially-owned waterfront property. The detachment is a key part of the security plan for the widespread redevelopment of the site, which the government projects will attract six million visitors annually.
While the final cost and size of the detachment have not been made public, initial plans include a helicopter pad and facilities for a potential marine unit. Significantly, the detachment will also house the OPP's first-ever mounted unit. The horses from this unit are expected to patrol the grounds of the new Ontario Place and the surrounding area.
A shift in highway patrol responsibility
The new detachment's location is strategically positioned to support the OPP's expanded role in Toronto. The force is set to assume responsibility for all traffic-related patrols on the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway, major arteries that were previously the sole jurisdiction of the Toronto Police Service (TPS).
This new OPP detachment will be well-positioned to patrol our highways, maintain a strong on-site policing presence and ensure the safety of families and all those visiting Ontario Place.
The transition of highway patrol duties from the TPS to the OPP marks a significant change in the city's policing landscape. For decades, Toronto police have managed traffic enforcement and responded to incidents on these vital expressways.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said that while the OPP will handle traffic, his officers will retain responsibility for non-traffic related criminal investigations that occur on the highways. In a statement, Demkiw noted that his teams, including the traffic services division, respond to 'thousands of calls for service a year to keep the city’s arterial expressways moving safely.'
Redevelopment and security at the waterfront
The police facility is one component of a massive and controversial overhaul of the Ontario Place grounds. The Ford government's plan includes a large private spa and waterpark, the relocation of the Ontario Science Centre, and the creation of new parkland and public spaces. Premier Doug Ford has also suggested the possibility of building a new convention centre on the adjacent Exhibition Place grounds.
The government's plan to give the provincially-owned land a makeover has been met with criticism from some community groups and municipal politicians, who have raised concerns about the privatization of public space and the long-term lease granted to the spa company. The new police presence is framed by the province as a necessary measure to ensure public safety amid the expected surge in visitor traffic to these new attractions. This move is the latest in a series of provincial actions impacting municipal Toronto, including a recent proposal by the province to take control of the city's island airport. That plan has been met with stiff opposition from Toronto fights Ontario's airport takeover plan, which has described it as a 'land grab'.
Part of a broader 'tough on crime' strategy
The investment in a new OPP detachment aligns with the Progressive Conservative government's broader 'tough on crime' agenda. Over the past two years, the province has introduced a series of justice-related policies and funding announcements aimed at cracking down on repeat and violent offenders.
Last November, the government tabled legislation to reform the bail system, proposing a requirement for people accused of a crime to provide a cash security deposit upfront. Officials said at the time that they believe the changes will improve bail compliance. This followed a push to strengthen Canada's bail system to keep high-risk individuals from being released.
More recently, the government announced it would add 17 new judges to the Ontario Court of Justice to tackle a backlog of complex criminal cases. As part of this initiative, it is also creating a new cybercrime and cryptocurrency prosecution team to assist police with major online crime investigations. The province is also expanding its dedicated guns-and-gangs units in an effort to secure Ontario's borders from illegal firearms, and has made its Provincial Gun and Gang Support Unit a permanent fixture.
These justice system changes, combined with infrastructure projects like the new OPP detachment and the expansion of major transportation corridors like the Ontario Line, reflect a governance style that departs from the more moderate approaches of previous provincial administrations. The current government has shown a willingness to centralize control and make significant investments in law enforcement and infrastructure, reshaping the province's political and physical landscape.
As the province moves forward with its request for proposals, the development of the Ontario Place OPP detachment will transition from a plan to a physical reality, creating a permanent police presence on Toronto's waterfront for decades to come.
