Halifax police asking for armoured vehicle in upcoming budget
CBC
Halifax Regional Police will ask for an armoured vehicle for high-risk situations in the upcoming city budget, but one policing expert is urging restraint when it comes to such tools.
On Friday, a Halifax city spokesperson said the municipal police force will put forward a request for an armoured vehicle in the 2025-26 capital budget that is similar to one that was approved in 2019.
In June 2020, council cancelled the $368,000 expense for that vehicle following George Floyd's death and protests about police brutality against Black people. Instead, council used the funds for the city's diversity and inclusion office, the public safety office and anti-Black racism programs.
Now, Halifax police are asking to buy a similar vehicle once again. It's unclear yet what it would cost or what the model would be.
A police spokesperson said in an email Friday that the armoured vehicle "would only be for the highest-risk situations."
"This is not a vehicle that would be seen on the streets regularly, but it would be an important tool in our toolkit so that we're prepared to respond to very serious events," said Marla MacInnis.
Currently, HRP calls in the Nova Scotia RCMP's armoured vehicle when needed. MacInnis said Monday the force has used the RCMP's vehicle about 10 times this year for things like firearm offences, high-risk warrant executions involving firearms, weapons or drug-related offences, or a barricaded person.
"It's a piece of equipment that is greatly needed and is long overdue," said Darla Perry, president of the Halifax police union.
Perry said she's been pushing for the force to get such a vehicle for more than a decade, and has filed an occupational health and safety complaint with the provincial Labour Department "to investigate why we don't have one."
"We don't go out on the street without armoured vests on. This is a ballistic shield that provides a level of protection between the police and the person they're dealing with, and the public and the person we're dealing with," Perry said.
CBC News asked the Labour Department when this complaint was received and whether any action had been taken, but did not receive a response by publication time.
Perry said HRP wants to buy a model similar to the Mounties' vehicle, given the integrated nature of Halifax RCMP and municipal police.
HRP uses the term "armoured rescue vehicle," which Perry said is more accurate because it can be used to pull officers or civilians from dangerous situations.
Temitope Oriola, a criminology professor at the University of Alberta who studies terrorism and police use of force, said the term is "bureaucratic pyrotechnics" and it's the public's job to unwrap police terminology.
Canada's premiers are calling on the federal government to extend the deadline for claiming charitable donations on tax returns through to the end of February.
Premier Danielle Smith will attend the second inauguration of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump in January, her office has confirmed.
Nothing says it's the holiday season more than a group of carollers and in Watson Lake, Yukon, some residents fully embraced the holiday tradition.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's annual Christmas message encourages Canadians to give thanks for "all that is good in the world" and check in on those who have not had an easy time this year.
Alberta's top court has dismissed an appeal by a man found guilty of stabbing his estranged wife 17 times.
Joelle Bader hopes to play some day for Canada's national senior women's soccer team. Playing professionally is also a dream for the 16-year-old Charlottetown native.
Work and study permits will no longer be available for flagpolers at ports of entry in Canada.
A national park in eastern Newfoundland has made the unusual move of opening in the winter so people can catch a glimpse of its rare and menacing new guest.
Workers and management at a credit union in Northern Ontario are struggling with the aftermath of a shooting two weeks ago.
Halifax Regional Police will ask for an armoured vehicle for high-risk situations in the upcoming city budget, but one policing expert is urging restraint when it comes to such tools.
A $54.1-million surcharge being paid by N.B. Power customers this year, to reimburse the utility for past financial misfortunes, has made no progress on retiring a $236.1-million debt the payments were originally meant to deal with.