The government is protecting Ontario communities from growing economic threats by continuing to implement initiatives to enhance border security, keep dangerous criminals off the streets and protect the province’s communities. These efforts include fighting illegal border crossings and cross-border trade in guns and drugs, as well as keeping criminals behind bars.
Ontario continues to take deliberate steps to create a modern, stable justice system and increase its capacity by making targeted, multi-ministry investments across all areas of the justice sector, including community safety and policing, courts and correctional services.
Protecting Ontario’s Borders
The government is continuing to enhance security at all points of entry, including land and water. This includes combatting activities such as the smuggling of illegal guns, and dangerous and illicit drugs, as well as preventing illegal border crossings into Ontario from the United States.
In January 2025, Ontario launched Operation Deterrence, the government’s framework for enhanced security at the border and tackling criminal activity harming communities on both sides of the border. The strategy was developed through joint efforts by multiple provincial ministries and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), along with federal, First Nation, municipal and U.S. partners.
Since Operation Deterrence was launched in January 2025, there have been more than 73,000 hours of patrols in key border areas, over 5,000 hours of aviation patrols, more than 60,000 vehicle inspections, resulting in over a thousand charges, and the seizure of firearms, drugs, stolen vehicles, as well as stopping illegal border-crossing attempts and combatting human trafficking. The government is investing $113 million over the next three years to continue to support enforcement efforts to help keep Ontario’s borders secure.
Operation Deterrence unites the full range of provincial resources under an innovative strategy, above and beyond existing and ongoing measures, to protect Ontario−U.S. borders and combat cross-border illegal activities, ensuring the safety, sovereignty, and economic prosperity of the people of Ontario.
Fighting Crime with the Expanded Joint Air Support Unit
Ensuring police services have the resources to respond to major incidents and urgent situations is a priority for the government. As announced in the 2025 Budget, Ontario is investing $57 million for two new H-135 helicopters to support the Niagara Regional Police Service and the Windsor Police Service with increased patrols, security and enforcement at key entry points at the U.S. border.
This additional investment builds on the government’s 2024 announcement to provide $134 million for five police helicopters for use in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Ottawa, bringing the total number of Joint Air Support Unit helicopters to seven. Equipped with the latest technology, the helicopters will help protect Ontario’s borders and keep highways and roadways safe from violent carjackings, auto theft, street racing and impaired driving.
Combatting and Preventing Auto Theft
Auto theft remains a serious problem impacting communities across Ontario, which is why the government is collaborating with municipalities and the federal government, providing funding to police services and raising public awareness of auto theft prevention measures.
Through the Preventing Auto Theft (PAT) Grant, the government continues to support police services in prevention and public awareness initiatives to combat auto theft. As previously announced, the PAT Grant is providing $18 million from 2023 to 2026 to 21 police services for projects that feature new and enhanced crime-fighting measures focused on prevention, detection, analysis and enforcement. This funding will support Ontario in combatting and preventing auto theft by targeting organized crime networks and ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice, to keep people and communities safe.
The government has introduced new legislation amending the Highway Traffic Act to give police the authority to search for and seize electronic devices that are intended to be used for vehicle theft. Once proclaimed, the change will provide law enforcement with stronger tools to keep keyless entry devices off the streets and out of the hands of would-be criminals.
In addition, the province is permanently establishing a dedicated Major Auto Theft Prosecution Response Team to focus on crime hotspots across Ontario, such as Ottawa, Toronto, Brampton, Newmarket, Durham, London and Windsor. The team will provide legal advice and prosecutorial support to police services and help dismantle organized crime networks, holding offenders accountable and cracking down on carjackings and home invasions.
These measures will support law enforcement in safeguarding the streets and make it easier to stop car thieves in their tracks.
Fighting Guns, Gangs and Violence
Gang violence puts the lives of the people of Ontario at risk. A number of criminal offences are consistently linked to gang activity, including property offences, drug trafficking and importation, fraud, money laundering, robberies, assaults with weapons, homicides, auto theft, and human trafficking.
This is why the government is continuing its partnership with the federal government, which is providing Ontario with $121 million from 2023 to 2028 to fight gun and gang violence. This funding provides resources to prosecutors, the OPP, municipal and First Nation police services, community organizations and school boards across the province to conduct investigations and undertake measures focused on preventing, monitoring, and fighting gun- and gang-related violence and organized crime, as well as assisting victims and survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking.
This funding is helping keep people safe and criminals off the street. For example, since 2019–20, Ontario’s Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy resulted in seizures of over 1,000 firearms, more than 2,800 vehicles and $25 million in currency, yielding over 20,000 charges.
Keeping Violent, Repeat Offenders Behind Bars
Ontario is taking decisive action to protect communities, support victims of crime and keep communities safe by making investments to prevent repeat and violent offenders from committing serious crimes while out on bail.
Through the Bail Compliance and Warrant Apprehension (BCWA) Grant program, the government continues to support police services in ensuring that high-risk and repeat violent offenders comply with their bail conditions. As previously announced, the BCWA Grant will provide $8.3 million in 2025–26 to police services to support dedicated bail compliance and warrant apprehension teams to monitor high-risk individuals. In addition, the province is providing new technology to police services, as part of a provincewide bail compliance monitoring system.
By giving police the tools they need to track and arrest offenders who violate their bail conditions, the government is helping to ensure Ontario is one of the safest jurisdictions in Canada.
Getting Tough on Crime to Protect Communities from Criminals
The government is improving public safety by getting tough on crime and putting violent, repeat offenders behind bars. Recent legislative amendments will strengthen the courts’ ability to deal with serious crimes by streamlining the judicial selection process and allocating additional judges to the Ontario Court of Justice, as well as creating dedicated prosecution teams for serious crimes.
These changes include a new pool-based recommendation process for judicial positions that would allow the government to speed up appointments to the Ontario Court of Justice. These changes also require the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee to consider criteria set out by the Attorney General of Ontario when reviewing and evaluating judicial candidates.
As announced previously, up to 52 additional judges have been allocated over the past two years, to ensure that the Ontario Court of Justice can keep pace with a growing number of complex cases and address the existing backlog of criminal cases.
In addition, the government will strengthen its ability to prosecute serious crimes, including through the introduction of a new cybercrime and cryptocurrency prosecution team that will support police investigations and prosecute major cybercrime cases.
Specialized prosecution teams will hold offenders accountable, while stronger and more efficient courts will support victims of crime and keep communities safe.
Training More Police Officers to Protect Communities
There is a growing need for police officers across the province. This is why the government is increasing enrolment in the Basic Constable Training (BCT) program. The BCT program is now able to accommodate an additional 80 recruits per year for a total of 2,080 annually, with priority being given to small, medium-sized, and First Nation police services. The government is also providing $8.8 million in 2025−26 to support a one-time additional intake of up to 300 recruits in the BCT program.
By expanding the BCT program, the government underscores its commitment to strengthening public safety through the development of a highly trained and responsive police service.
Supporting Police Services in First Nation Communities
The government is working with First Nation communities across the province to strengthen First Nation police services under the umbrella of the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 (CSPA) and to keep these communities safe and protected.
Through the CSPA and its regulations, the government has established a legislative framework that modernizes and improves Ontario’s approach to policing and community safety, including better oversight and accountability of the policing sector.
In December 2024, the government announced a $514 million investment to support the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service Board (NAPSB) as it became the first-ever First Nation police service to opt in to the provincial framework for policing under the CSPA. The funding will allow the NAPSB to increase its officer complement to over 500 officers that serve 34 First Nation communities in Ontario.
By joining the provincial framework for policing, the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service is also taking an important step forward towards providing culturally appropriate policing services, with the support of provincial legislation that will ensure adequate and effective policing service standards for remote and Northern communities.
Building More Capacity in Provincial Jails
The government is adding more beds to several adult correctional facilities, marking an important milestone in Ontario’s plan to ensure sufficient correctional capacity in both the short and long term.
To address immediate needs, the government has re-opened and repurposed the Regional Intermittent Centre at the Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre in London, adding 110 new beds. Construction is also underway to renovate and repurpose the Toronto Intermittent Centre at the Toronto South Detention Centre, adding up to 320 new beds to accommodate minimum- and medium-risk inmates.
The government is also expanding existing facilities and building new ones to address longer-term needs, including:
- Adding 91 new beds at the Quinte Detention Centre, bringing the institution’s capacity to over 300 beds;
- Building a new Brockville Correctional Complex with 250 beds;
- Adding 25 new beds to accommodate a women’s treatment unit at St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre; and
- Constructing the new Eastern Ontario Correctional Complex, which will result in 235 beds.
The government is working to identify further medium- and long-term opportunities to increase correctional capacity. This will help frontline staff to do their jobs safely and effectively and keep violent and repeat offenders off the streets.
Increasing correctional capacity will be supported by hiring additional correctional staff, which would include nurses, correctional officers, and support staff. The government will never choose to let a violent offender walk free due to capacity.
Protecting the Health and Safety of Firefighters
The government is committed to keeping communities safe and supporting the province’s firefighters. Firefighters are more likely to experience health problems because of exposure to hazardous chemicals. To keep first responders and Ontario’s communities safe, fire departments need resources to ensure they have the right infrastructure and protective equipment.
This is why the government has increased funding for the Fire Protection Grant in 2025−26 from $10 million to $20 million. This application‐based grant will help municipal fire departments expand cancer prevention initiatives, improve responses to lithium-ion battery-related incidents and support upgrades such as enhanced broadband and internet connectivity.
The Fire Protection Grant will support firefighters on the front lines by giving them the tools to protect themselves and do their jobs effectively.
Recognizing Service in Policing
To support Ontario’s commitment to public safety, the government is establishing the Distinct Long Service and Good Conduct Medal program. The program will formally recognize police officers and civilians from municipal police services, First Nation police services and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), and contribute to recruitment and retention efforts.
Ontario is also introducing the Distinguished Service Medal for Law Enforcement Service Animals to recognize the contributions of police dogs and horses in maintaining public safety across the province. Law enforcement service animals perform high-risk and specialized duties, including narcotics and explosives detection, suspect tracking, missing persons searches and crowd control. This program will formally acknowledge their service and reinforce Ontario’s commitment to recognizing all members of the law enforcement community.
Supporting Investigations with Advanced DNA Technology
The government is committed to ensuring police services across Ontario have access to advanced tools that protect communities and deliver justice. Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) is a powerful DNA-based method that helps solve crimes and locate missing persons.
The government is exploring opportunities to make IGG testing more accessible across the province, helping investigators solve cold cases, prevent future harm, and provide families with the answers they deserve.
Strengthening Supports to Combat Hate
As announced in the 2025 Ontario Budget, the government is investing $12.8 million in 2025–26 to continue the Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant to help address the rise of hate incidents and keep communities safe across the province. This will aid faith-based and cultural organizations in implementing measures to help ensure their community spaces remain safe and secure for everyone in Ontario, regardless of their background, religion or culture. Grant funding can be used for measures such as hiring security staff, surveillance cameras, security assessments, cybersecurity and building repairs.
Protecting Ontario from Human Trafficking
In May 2025, Ontario renewed its Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy for 2025 to 2030, building on the province’s existing investment of over $345 million to reduce trafficking and support survivors. Since its launch in 2020, the Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy has trained approximately 1,100 frontline workers and helped tens of thousands of survivors, as well as children who have experienced trafficking or were at-risk of being trafficked. The renewed plan continues to strengthen collaboration across government to enhance initiatives that support survivors and to hold offenders accountable.
Advancing Anti-Money Laundering Efforts Through a Beneficial Ownership Registry
The government is committed to keeping the people of Ontario safe by helping to prevent criminals from laundering money and committing associated criminal activities, while also protecting Ontario businesses and strengthening the province’s economic competitiveness.
In the 2025 Ontario Budget, the government committed to hold consultations with key partners to inform the establishment of a Beneficial Ownership Registry. Consultations held with law enforcement partners, regulators and business organizations over the past months have reinforced support to establish a registry that minimizes burden, protects individual privacy, and aligns with federal practices.
Building on this advice, Ontario is moving forward to implement a Beneficial Ownership Registry as part of the government’s commitment to develop a provincial strategy to combat money laundering.
A registry would build on existing measures that require privately held business corporations to collect and maintain beneficial ownership information, serving as an important tool to support law enforcement, regulatory bodies and tax authorities. Ontario will work to implement a Beneficial Ownership Registry in 2027.
Ontario’s proposed approach aligns with efforts underway in other provinces and at the federal level and would contribute to a coordinated national framework that strengthens Canada’s overall economic security and resilience against financial crime.
See the Annex: Details of Tax Measures and Other Legislative Initiatives for more information.