RIGHT NOW motion coming from @ShawnMenard1 and @cmckenney at #Ottawa City Council to decrease police increase from 3% to 1.5% and invest some of it into @ottawahealth.

So again is not even about #DefundThePolice but just to lessen the increase. Police would still get a increase

. @ShawnMenard1 says we shouldn't be prioritizing @OttawaPolice over @ottawahealth during a global pandemic.

. @ShawnMenard1 says we aren't proposing cuts but that @OttawaPolice get a more modest increase from $11 million to $8 million and have the $4 million go to @ottawahealth.

OPH needs more resources he says. OPS shouldnt get 10x more money than OPH during a pandemic.

. @ShawnMenard1 says this would not increase taxes and would give more money to OPH.

This seems very reasonable. Much less than what people have been asking for.

. @MatthewLuloff says we shouldnt "rob Peter to pay Paul". @OttawaPolice would still be getting an increase...

. @dianedeans says changing policing isnt a simple solution of re-allocation of resources from @OttawaPolice. It's more complicated than that.

Many other experts would disagree with that.

Here's 1 example: https://globalnews.ca/news/7024773/defunding-police-funding-mental-health/

. @dianedeans says "this is not the time to cut the budget"

Then when is Councilor Deans? When the "time comes" will it be too late?

. @cmckenney now speaking who seconded the motion.

They say that in their ward of #SomersetWard, health clinics have had to cut services for safe injection sighs and mobile clinics.

They say that @VeraEtches has even said we need more funding for staff, council isn't listening

. @cmckenney says that yes they have asked for more police resources in #SomersetWard but says they would take five mental health workers over 1 police officer any day.

"We need to stop criminalizing poverty" they say.

City Treasurer says that other levels of government will fill those voids.

Why go to other levels of government though when we FULLY have the means to fund @ottawahealth ourselves?

. @MathieuFleury says the current 2021 #Ottawa budget is by-and-large a status quo budget. It does not represent the current dire times we are in.

. @MathieuFleury says he'll support the motion because we need more funding for @ottawahealth, won't support it based on defunding the police.

. @cmckenney in response to councilor @AllanHubley_23 says that if we fund @ottawahealth more, then more small businesses would be able to open and stay open.

. @AllanHubley_23 is very predictably against the motion.

. @JLeiper asks if the @ottawahealth budget works like the @OttawaPolice budget as in "Are councilors able to go over the budget line-by-line".

No, says City Clerk, councilors can go over health budget. Police budget is only department with that restriction.

. @JLeiper says that this is a perfect opportunity to transfer money from police budget to health.

He says that the most dangerous issues in @KitchissippiOtt are issues that have to do with public health and poverty.

Let's really address them, he says.

. @JLeiper says that for decades we have tried to police ourselves out of social issues, but it has not worked.

He says councilor @ShawnMenard1 is asking us to chose health over policing. Addressing health issues is a better long term investment says Leiper.

. @JLeiper says he will be supporting this motion and he says that all councilors should vote for the motion as it will show that councilors' commitment to a healthier City.

Councilor @RiverWardRiley says he is not supporting the motion but is concerned with the low 2.5% levy for public health.

They should be better resourced he says.

. @RickChiarelli unfortunately still speaking at Council... why is he still there. We don't know.

Sorry folks, internet was down so going back 20 minutes into the livestream to be able to get the whole debate!

Councilor @KeithEgli says that "in a perfect world, both departments would get a 3% increase."

No. In a rational world, we would value health more than policing our population.

"Most of our funding comes from the province for health" says @KeithEgli.

Isn't that an issue though? Shouldn't our funding not be beholden to the provincial government?

. @KeithEgli says how could we raise that 2.5% to 3%, @JimWatsonOttawa hits back and says, "they actually get 4% increase because of other factors."

Watson not letting up. Why is he so against raising more revenue for public health?

. @KeithEgli wants to raise money for public health to 3% from 2.5%, really not a huge change.

A note that Keith Egli is the chair of the @ottawahealth board yet is not in favour of a motion to increase funding to his own department.

. @JimWatsonOttawa chastises @KeithEgli for wanting to increasing funding to public health and asks "Are you asking to increase taxes for all our citizens?"

With all due respect, Mayor Watson, we think residents would pay a bit extra in taxes to fight this pandemic.

Councilor @Eli_ElChantiry asks how are we going to diversify the @OttawaPolice if they have less money?

Frankly, more money for public health will go much longer way than "more diverse police."

Now, were hearing from Councilor @rawlsonking on the motion. He says he appreciates the sentiments of his colleagues but in a surprising move is voting against the motion.

King often votes with members of the urban caucus and for progressive causes.

He says that this is not the answer as @OttawaPolice are doing the work to reform and @OPSChiefSloly is addressing concerns.

Hard to see that when racialized youth across our City feel unsafe as a result of police presence.

. @rawlsonking though says he will not support the overall budget directions.

Now Councilor Jan Harder making some bad gameshow puns to talk about why she is against the @cmckenney and @ShawnMenard1 motion.

Harder is against this motion, unsurprisingly.

Now @ShawnMenard1 who is wrapping up on the motion.

He says councilors are speaking against the process but Menard has says this is the process you all voted for.

. @ShawnMenard1 says to councilors who says he should get more involved in the consultation process says that he has been, he's been to boards, spoken to @OPSChiefSloly.

. @ShawnMenard1 makes reference to a barrage of corrupt police stories in the news these past several months.

Justifying why we shouldn't fund police more.

Usually when departments make failure upon failure they get penalized not rewarded.

. @ShawnMenard1 says let this be a part of bigger change. He says he will come speak to the police board. Vote in favour of the motion to change the culture around policing in the City.

Now @JimWatsonOttawa commenting on the motion.

Mentions @rawlsonking will be on the police board, troubling knowing that he will not support this motion.

. @JimWatsonOttawa says this motion is "part of the #DefundThePolice movement"

Again, reminder folks that this motion ISNT EVEN proposing to decrease the @OttawaPolice budget.

. @JimWatsonOttawa says that we need other levels of government to support @ottawahealth.

What about the municipality, we can fund it ourselves.

He urges councilors not to support it. Watson always gets last word in council meetings as a result of procedural by-laws.

. @JimWatsonOttawa says @cmckenney and @ShawnMenard1 just "threw in" @ottawahealth into the motion because it "looks good"

The @cmckenney and @ShawnMenard1 motion to decrease the police funding increase and increase @ottawahealth budget has failed.

Another blotch on the record of #Ottawa City Council. History will not remember this favorably.

Now motion to City Council to vote on Watson motion to suspend police without pay.