OSHAWA — The Official Opposition critic for Transportation and Highways, Jennifer French, said the Ford government's cut to funding for the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the body responsible for patrolling highway safety, at the same time as Ford launches a pilot project to raise speed limits on sections of Ontario’s 400-series highways and the QEW, raises safety concerns.
According to the government's own estimates, released Thursday, the Ford Conservatives are slashing over $46 million from the OPP budget, with over $43 million cut from the force’s “Field and Traffic Services.”
“People rely on OPP officers to monitor our highways, and to stop people who drive dangerously and put everyone at risk,” said French.
“With one hand, the Ford government is slashing the OPP budget for highway safety enforcement, and with the other, it is raising speed limits. This is an unbalanced approach.”
French said the NDP wants to hear feedback from police, safety experts, municipal leaders and drivers on the issue of speed limits.