Police Officers Recruitment Fund - Operating Principles

Purpose
The Government of Canada is establishing a Police Officers Recruitment Fund for provinces and territories to participate in a national effort to recruit 2,500 police officers across the country, consistent with the high priority that the Government of Canada places on community safety. The purpose of the Fund is to support the efforts of provinces and territories in recruiting additional front-line police officers nationwide who can target local crimes and make communities safer.

Expected Uses of the Police Officers Recruitment Fund
Given the diverse public safety needs across Canada, provinces and territories are in the best position to decide how to direct the federal funding in ways that meet their respective policing priorities and public safety needs.

The Fund approach takes into account provincial jurisdiction for policing. It allows provinces and territories to draw down the funding as they require over the next five years and to allocate funding to municipal and provincial police services to be used to recruit new police officers within their jurisdiction.

Funding provided will support and complement investments by provinces and territories in the recruitment of police officers.

Accountability and Reporting to Canadians
All governments acknowledge the importance of reporting to Canadians about how public funds are used. Therefore, under this initiative, provincial and territorial governments are encouraged to report directly to their residents on the expenditures financed and outcomes achieved with the funding provided through the Police Officers Recruitment Fund.

Provincial and territorial governments are also encouraged to acknowledge in public announcements the funding contribution provided by the Government of Canada in respect of helping to support police officer recruitment.