Province says it will fund training and maintenance for Windsor police helicopter
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The province has disclosed some more details about a helicopter the government is buying for Windsor police amid questions from city officials about the aircraft's cost to local taxpayers and stated border security mandate.
On May 15, Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government unveiled its 2025 budget, which includes $57 million to purchase two new Airbus H-135 helicopters — one for Niagara regional police, and one for Windsor police.
The aircraft are meant to help municipal law enforcement "with increased patrols, security, and enforcement at key entry points at the U.S. border," according to the budget.
On Monday, the province told CBC Windsor that it will be covering some of the costs associated with the new equipment.
"Our government is ensuring police services have the tools they need to protect our borders and keep our communities safe — This includes supporting the Windsor Police Service with a new H-135 helicopter," wrote Dakota Moniz, director of communications for Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner.
"In addition to the new helicopter, we will provide funding to the police service to hire and train tactical flight officers, and support the Ontario Provincial Police, who will provide maintenance for the helicopter upon its arrival in 2027," Moniz stated.
As of Monday evening, Moniz had not responded to follow-up questions regarding how much the province would be providing, and whether those amounts are included in the original $57-million investment.
Windsor city councillor Jo-Anne Gignac, who chairs the Windsor Police Services Board, has expressed concerns about the costs associated with operating and maintaining a helicopter.
"I think for the people of Windsor to have to assume the cost of operating a helicopter is naturally concerning," Gignac told CBC after the announcement.
Ontario budget promises new police helicopter and more skilled tradespeople for Windsor-Essex
10 days ago
Duration 2:28
A new helicopter for Windsor police and almost a billion dollars in funding for worker skills development are among the aspects of the latest Ontario budget that will have a direct impact on our region. CBC's Dalson Chen spoke with Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac of the police board and John D'Agnolo of Unifor Local 200 for their reactions.
After a meeting of the Windsor Police Services Board last week, Gignac said the city was still awaiting details from the province about the helicopter.
"We still don't have the information that we need to be able to sign an agreement in terms of that tool," Gignac said.
"And it is a tool. It's a tool that I appreciate the premier has thought that it might be a positive thing."
There have also been questions about whether it's the role of a municipal police service to patrol the international border — which is normally a federal responsibility.
"It's just getting to the point where downloading of different responsibilities that were never part of our municipal responsibilities are coming left and right," Gignac said. "And so we have to be very careful."
Both the Canadian and Ontario governments have implemented new border security measures in response to criticisms from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has claimed that fentanyl smuggling from Canada justifies imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods — despite data showing that the vast majority of fentanyl enters the U.S. from Mexico.
In an effort to appease Trump, Ottawa announced in December that it would spend $1.3 billion on beefing up border security — which includes having the RCMP patrol the border with leased Black Hawk helicopters.
The Windsor detachment of the RCMP declined an interview request on Monday and did not respond to questions about coordinating with the coming Windsor police helicopter patrol.
There's some precedent for the province's new police helicopters. Ford's government previously said it was spending $134 million on five helicopters for police in Ottawa and the Toronto area.
The latest announcement "builds on" that investment, the budget says, adding that the new aircraft "will help protect Ontario's borders and keep highways and roadways safe from violent carjackings, auto theft, street racing, and impaired driving."
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