Emma Teitel: Why Toronto paying $1 million for rent-a-cops to spy on public parks just doesn’t add up
When the parks security issue was debated at city council in May, city staff were adamant that security guards would not be involved in enforcement. If true, this is good news because security guards are not social workers trained to negotiate with vulnerable populations. If cops can’t defuse an intense encampment situation why would rent-a-cops do any better?
“Should a contracted security guard witness a structure or tent being erected in a park, or one already in place, they will contact the city immediately and Streets to Homes teams will quickly engage with encampment occupants, offering services and safe indoor accommodation. The contracted service will be supported by the city’s corporate security staff.”
In all seriousness though, whether the security contracts were awarded appropriately or not, this whole scheme is a profound waste of funds in a city that desperately needs them elsewhere.
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