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Ontario felt the necessity from the air to help catch auto thieves. Revealing a plan in the direction, the Ontario government is purchasing five new police helicopters to be used in the Greater Toronto Area and in Ottawa, at a cost of $134 million. The press release read as,
To fight against car thieves and organized crime, the Ontario government is investing $134 million to purchase five new police helicopters for use in the Greater Toronto Area and Ottawa. Equipped with the latest technology, the helicopters will help keep highways and roadways safe from violent carjackings, auto theft, street racing and impaired driving.
Premier Doug Ford is in Mississauga Monday morning alongside Solicitor General Michael Kerzner to announce $134 million for five new helicopters to patrol the GTA and Ottawa for not just thefts but carjackings, street racing and impaired driving.
"Our government is making the necessary investments to ensure that police services have the tools and resources they need to crack down on auto theft and car thieves," said Premier Doug Ford, in a statement.
The cost of the helicopters has jumped from $46 million planned in this year's budget — an increase that stemmed from adding a helicopter and buying them instead of leasing at the behest of the involved police services, Ford said at a news conference Monday.
"I think it's the best investment we've ever done in policing, and we just look forward to them going out there and making sure we keep our streets safe from the criminals out there," Ford said.
The province says that as part of a new joint air support unit, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will acquire two new H135 helicopters that will provide support to both Ottawa and Toronto police services.
The other three helicopters will be procured, owned and operated by Durham, Halton and Peel police respectively, the news release reads.
Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, said in a statement,
"Criminal networks have become more sophisticated, but so have we," "In Ontario, a car is stolen every 14 minutes — this is completely unacceptable. These helicopters will be a critical tool in helping police stay one step ahead of the criminals who are stealing cars and committing crimes on our streets."
Some of the funds for the new helicopters were announced in the Ford government’s March budget, and are in addition to $51 million for the OPP’s auto theft team. The statement read as,
The investment in new helicopters was announced in the 2024 Ontario Budget and builds on the province’s $51 million investment to support the OPP’s Provincial Auto Theft and Towing Team and Ontario’s Major Auto Theft Prosecution Response Team.
“We are investing directly in the wellbeing of Ontario families, who deserve to feel safe in their homes and communities,” said Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy. “With these five new helicopters patrolling our roadways and neighbourhoods, we’re sending a clear message to criminals that we do not tolerate threats to public safety.”
