Doug Ford wants to lower the education requirements for police officers

In an effort to lure more people into policing amid a shortage of officers, Ontario wants to drop the requirement that potential constables have a post-secondary education, Premier Doug Ford says.

The controversial plan comes just weeks after the inquiry into the 2020 mass shooting that claimed 22 lives in Nova Scotia recommended the Royal Canadian Mounted Police create a three-year, degree-based model of police education.

Police forces are telling us recruitment can be challenging," Ford told a news conference Tuesday at the Toronto police college in Etobicoke.

The timing of the announcement is strange" given the Nova Scotia inquiry recommendations and general trends in policing, but a police reform expert at the University of Toronto said he doesn't think Ontario will see a flood of constables with little life experience fresh out of high school.

In practice, I don't see this changing how police are hiring," said Julius Haag, an assistant professor, noting that studies show officers with more education and better critical thinking skills are less likely to use force or run into disciplinary problems.

These are still highly competitive, well-paid jobs."

Opposition parties were skeptical of proposed legislation to change the Community Safety and Policing Act, which for years has required recruits have a post-secondary education.

It's very concerning," said New Democrat Leader Marit Stiles, saying university and college educations teach a wider view of the world.

They (police) have a very difficult job, and they require a lot of skills including critical thinking to do their jobs properly."

Solicitor General Michael Kerzner defended the change, which the Ford government can easily pass with its majority in the legislature, saying most police recruits are now in their late 20s.

We want more people to have the opportunity to become police officers, people from all walks of life and backgrounds who reflect our diversity," he said, adding that the changes will reduce barriers."

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw told the Star he supports eliminating barriers to police work but said life experience" will continue to be an important factor in the hiring of future constables.

We still look for candidates that are well rounded, that are grounded in civic duty and community," he added in an interview.

We would certainly welcome any young person to come meet our recruiters and discuss the specifics of what it would take for them to become a competitive candidate for any role to enter the service, including the role of police officer."

The province is also dropping tuition fees of about $15,000 for the basic constable training program - something Ford's government has already done for personal support workers and some nurses to ease a health-care staffing crunch - and taking in more recruits for police training.

For years, police forces have been considering life experience gained in other roles, as well as volunteer and community work in addition to education, as they determine who to hire.

The province is expanding the number of recruits sent by police forces across the province to the Ontario Police College in Aylmer by 70, increasing the size of each cohort to 550 people from 480. Starting next year, there will be four cohorts sent for training, up from three.

Recruits for municipal police forces must complete the basic constable training program at the police college within six months of being hired. Some forces have training programs before and after the program at Aylmer.

Courses at the police college include traffic law, human rights, diversity and professional practice, ethics, mental health for first responders, community safety, defensive tactics, use of force and de-escalation techniques along with firearms training.

Rob Ferguson is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @robferguson1