As part of its plan to protect Ontario and keep communities safe, the Ontario government is enhancing public safety by investing $240,000.00 and $207,655.00 over two years to support the mobile crisis response teams led by Six Nations Police Service and Brantford Police Service respectively.
This funding will enable police to work with trained crisis workers to provide the specialized support often needed when interacting with people who are experiencing a mental health-related crisis.
“As an active-duty volunteer firefighter with the County of Brant, I know first-hand the importance of strong, local Mobile Crisis Response Teams”, said Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford-Brant. “Our government is strengthening these specialized teams to help defuse and mitigate mental health crisis situations and help find the wrap-around services that will help people get better.”
“Our government is taking decisive action to protect Ontario by ensuring police have the tools, resources, and partnerships they need to keep our communities safe,” added Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “Through this grant, we are equipping police services with the means to strengthen Mobile Crisis Response Teams—made up of police and crisis workers—who are uniquely positioned to respond to people experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis, de-escalating situations that could threaten public safety while connecting vulnerable individuals with the support they need.”
“I am tremendously pleased that Six Nations Police Service (SNPS) has been generously allocated $240,000 over the next two years to enhance our Mental Health Crisis Response” said SNPS Police Chief Darren Montour. “On behalf of SNPS, I would like to extend a heartfelt nia:wen (thank you) to the Province of Ontario and to Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma who continues to advocate for the needs of SNPS to be able to provide the best policing services to members of Six Nations of the Grand River.”
“This funding strengthens our capacity to deliver timely and compassionate responses to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis” said Brantford Police Service Police Chief Jason Saunders. “Through continued collaboration with our community partners, we remain committed to ensuring that those in crisis receive appropriate care and support.”
For 2025-26 and 2026-27, 36 police services and OPP detachments will receive approximately $9 million through the Mobile Crisis Response Team Enhancement Grant to increase the capacity of mobile crisis response teams across the province.
