Letter of Direction — OPP’s presence in Sault Ste. Marie
Read the Solicitor General’s response to the OPP Commissioner regarding Sault Ste. Marie’s request for OPP policing resources.
Solicitor General
Office of the Solicitor General
25 Grosvenor Street, 18th Floor
Toronto Ontario M7A 1Y6
Minister.SOLGEN@ontario.ca
July 3, 2025
Thomas Carrique, C.O.M.
Commissioner
Ontario Provincial Police
777 Memorial Avenue
Orillia Ontario L3V 7V3
thomas.carrique@opp.ca
Dear Commissioner Carrique:
On May 15th, 2025, I received correspondence from the Sault Ste. Marie city council requesting the development of an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) policing resource plan. I have reviewed and considered the request.
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is an exemplary municipal service in northern Ontario and our government will always have the backs of our small, medium and Indigenous police services and their heroic frontline officers by ensuring they have the tools and support they need to keep our communities safe. The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is critical to the diversity of policing across Ontario and serves as a key employer in the region with over 200 full-time members. I believe the service remains well-positioned to continue delivering effective, community-based policing to the residents of Sault Ste. Marie.
Pursuant to the authority provided under section 62(1) of the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, I am providing direction to not provide the Sault Ste. Marie municipal council with an OPP policing resource plan.
If you have any questions, I am available to discuss this matter further.
Sincerely,
Original version signed by:
The Honourable Michael S. Kerzner
Solicitor General
cc: Mario Di Tommaso, O.O.M.
Deputy Solicitor General, Community Safety