Premier Doug Ford says the province is eliminating tuition fees for the basic constable training program at the Ontario Police College and expanding enrolment in a bid to get more police officers in communities.
The province says 70 recruits per cohort will be added to the basic constable training program, up to 550, and there will be four cohorts per year instead of three starting next year.
Ford says he wants to see more “boots on the ground” to help push back against what he calls a rise in crime.
The government is also planning to eliminate the requirement for post-secondary education to become a police officer.