Kitchener Faces $587K Bylaw Enforcement Bill from WRPS

Tensions have risen between Kitchener city councillors and the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) after it handed the municipality a $587,000 bill due to changes in bylaw enforcement.

This issue arises from new provincial legislation allowing police boards across Ontario to charge municipalities for what they define as “non-core services.”

For WRPS, this includes bylaw enforcement activities, particularly concerning its dispatch services, which had been provided to the city free of charge for 30 years, according to reports.

Following the decision to start billing municipalities for these services, WRPS has presented the City of Kitchener with a bill of $587,000 that would be expected annually and would vary based on call volumes.

“The fact that we had an operating understanding, we took on certain costs, they took on certain costs over the last 25 plus years, now they’re essentially saying the legislation’s changed, so we’re going to use this as an opportunity to bill you. Is that essentially what the message is from WRPS?” asked Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic.

In reply, Michael May, the city’s General Manager of Community Services and Deputy CAO, simply stated, “That is correct.”

The push from regional police certainly led to frustrations among city councillors during a recent Finance and Corporate Services Committee meeting.

A notable concern for councillors was that there was no representative from WRPS present to discuss or answer questions about this situation.

“I think it would have been appropriate for somebody from WRPS to actually be here to answer some questions,” said Councillor Jason Deneault. “Unfortunately, questions that we’re asking would be better suited for them to be able to explain why they want to do it now and what their reasoning was.”

Deneault also pointed out what he saw as convenient timing in WRPS’s decision given recent support issues between them and the city.

“I’d hate to think that it’s as a result of the City of Kitchener not jumping on board with their new call center,” Deneault added. “I hope that we wouldn’t see that pettiness happen, but it definitely seems like it’s coincidental timing.”

Police Respond with Strong Statement

Cherri Greeno, spokesperson with WRPS, told 570 News Radio that this wasn’t coincidental and discussions with Kitchener started back in July 2024.

“To suggest this was a ‘coincidental’ decision or one made without collaboration is false and inaccurate,” Greeno said.

She mentioned that regional police weren’t invited to council discussions; “Had an invitation been extended, we would have been pleased to participate and provide any information required.”

The police indicated they’re interested in supporting a new dedicated bylaw dispatch model featuring its own phone number and radio channel available 24/7 year-round. Last year officers confirmed their interest in participating with municipalities including Kitchener regarding this proposal.

“The WRPS has worked closely since September 2025 with the implementation committee in a fair, transparent, and accommodating process with all partners,” Greeno noted.

Kitchener Has Highest Number of Bylaw Calls

During budget discussions at the regional level, Vrbanovic introduced a motion aimed at pausing what he referred to as the “Taj Mahal” of police communication centers; however it did not pass.

Kitchener wasn’t alone facing bills from regional police; other municipalities within Waterloo Region were also presented with billing plans tailored based on their needs related to bylaw enforcement and dispatching.

“It feels a little bit like frankly; the police service is starting to nickel and dime us for things,” said Vrbanovic. “I mean we see it here; we see it with handling some things during special events etc. It’s unfortunate especially considering significant increases regionally both operationally and capital-wise.”

WRPS had previously stated that Kitchener accounts for most bylaw calls received which aligns with numerous events hosted by the city resulting in increased complaints about fireworks or noise disturbances.

This situation has caused longer wait times for serious matters within Kitchener since they’ve needed balance between regular policing duties versus bylaw calls coming through simultaneously.

If those municipalities including Kitchener decide on accepting these bills they’ll also engage in new agreements reflecting updated models offering access towards separate radio channels meant specifically aiding real-time communications alongside quicker responses while streamlining procedures via single region-wide contact numbers designated strictly toward bylaw dispatching processes!