Stabilized Funding for Quebec’s National Police School (Details)

Name of province/ territory:

Quebec

City/ Region:

N/A

Description of Initiative:

Activities related directly to the mission of Quebec’s national police school as stipulated in the Police Act, including training, research and support activities, are funded through revenue from an annual contribution of 1% of the total payroll of Quebec’s police forces (ref.: chapter P-13.1, s. 43) and from registration and tuition fees.

Other non-funded activities, such as accommodation and customized training, are wholly funded through fee structures based on cost analyses. Surpluses generated by these activities are invested in developing the police mission.

Initiative Key Objectives:

To provide stable, recurrent funding.

Section Responsible for Implementation:

Quebec’s national police school and Quebec's Public Safety Department

Key Contact:

Daniel Jean
djean@enpq.qc.ca

Groups/ Agencies/ Key Partners Involved:

• other police services
• other government departments/agencies

Level of Involvement (consultative - information sharing) and/or cooperative - direct involvement):

Direct financial participation.

Amount of Time Initiative has been in Place:

Since April 1, 1997.

Reason for Undertaking the Initiative:

Initiative was implemented as a result of a government program review.

Resources Required to Implement this Initiative:

Major change management was required in Quebec municipalities affected by the measure.

Contribution of the police forces was as follows: $12.6 million in 2010 and $12.8 million in 2011. As of December 31, 2011, there were 15,793 police officers in Quebec (14,664 permanent police officers and 1,129 casuals), which translates into a contribution of $759 per officer. We do not have an estimate of the costs incurred by the police forces to accommodate the 1% funding. However, the legislator, through the Police Act, provided for two key elements in structuring this procedure for police forces:

• Reporting is done annually, based on the calendar year (January 1 to December 31).
• “Eligible amounts for payroll purposes” refers to the definition of taxable salary or wages as set out in the Taxation Act. This means using Box A on all Relevé 1s issued by employers. After that, it is simply a matter of segregating the police officers out of the total, or excluding civilians.

Method of Implementation:

Bill enacted following consultation.

Key Outcomes of the Initiative:

Quebec’s national police school’s funding is more stable.

Availability of a Communication Strategy:

Yes

Key Messages used to Publicize the Initiative:

N/A

Forms of Evaluation by which the Initiative will be Assessed:

• quantitative
• other: involvement of the research section, Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), to facilitate implementation of the project

Evaluation Completed or Community Feedback Received:

No

Summary of the Outcomes:

The project began in June 2012. No assessment has been done.

Summary of the Performance Measure Data Collected:

N/A

Economics of Policing Pillars:

• New Models of Community Safety

Further Details:

Funding for leasing charges is the only item covered by the Government of Quebec in its budget. Quebec’s national police school’s activities are funded on a user-pay basis, i.e., through the police forces’ annual contributions and through fees charged for services rendered.

Additional Comments or Suggestions:

It is important to understand that the Quebec national police school’s funding model is greatly affected by the academic tracks chosen by future police officers. Their education is a partnership between the Quebec Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport, the Quebec Ministère de la Sécurité publique and the École nationale de police du Québec.

The college-based, three-year police technology program, a prerequisite for Quebec’s national police school’s patrol officer / peace officer training program, provides for 15 weeks of intensive training.

Initial patrol officer/peace officer training in Quebec is based on two separate and complementary programs of study:

• The college program in police foundations leads to either a diploma of college studies (DEC) or an attestation of college studies (AEC) (depending on whether candidates have been promised employment with a police force through an equal opportunity program or in response to a security issue noted in the region served, and depending on previous education that is deemed satisfactory). During the program, candidates study the theoretical and practical foundations for the acquisition of general knowledge and skills.
• The Quebec national police school’s initial patrol officer / peace officer training program draws on and applies the above skills and expertise for the further study and practice of standard policing methods in Quebec.

Record Entry Date:

2013-08-01