Matheson loses its OPP detachment, but still has to pay full cost of policing
The Ontario Provincial Police is closing its detachment in the town of Black River-Matheson. The building is approximately 90 years old and is located in Matheson on Railway Street.
Town CAO Chris Wray said they've been told that officers will stop working from the building at the end of next week and will respond to the Matheson area from the Monteith Correctional Complex in Iroquois Falls.
But Wray said the municipality is still expected to pay $450,000 a year to the OPP.
"They said we won't see any difference in service and I have to take the OPP at their word," said Wray.
Not a local decision
He said the town is worried about the decision and suspects it was made by the province, not the OPP.
"The OPP have been great with us and they’ll continue to provide good service here," Wray said.
"They’ve got a great history here so we’re not overly concerned about their dedication, but we are concerned definitely that this is a microcosm of a bigger thing."
In recent years, Wray said the municipality has lost several provincial offices, including the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.
CTV News contacted the OPP for a comment, but officials replied by saying a media release will be sent out.
CTV also contacted the Ministry of the Solicitor General's Office and was told the OPP would respond to our questions.
Correction
After publishing, Chris Wray contacted CTV News and retracted his comment about the Porcupine Health Unit office located in the Bingham Memorial Hospital. He told CTV News he has confirmed the office is not closing and there was never any intention by the health unit to do so. The previous information has been removed from the article.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.