Mayor Bradley stands by 2023 police board resignation letter as budget fight escalates

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley says his previous warnings about a cult of secrecy within the police board have been vindicated by their recent move toward litigation.

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley is refusing to reopen the 2026 municipal budget despite a formal legal demand from the Sarnia Police Service Board. The board is seeking to restore 5 million dollars for a new police headquarters project that the mayor previously axed using his strong mayor powers.

In comments to The Sarnia Journal, Bradley addressed his 2023 decision to leave the board. He stated that he believes his "letter of resignation has stood the test of time and if anything the actions of the Chief and Board have continued to grow that are not in the public interest related to spending and secrecy".

The mayor expressed concern that the board is attempting to bypass his veto by framing the 5 million dollar demand as a legal necessity for adequate and effective policing. He characterized the move as a "last minute manoeuvre to try to bypass the Veto trying to present it as a compromise".

Internal police board documents suggest the current headquarters can remain operational and code-compliant for 4.4 million dollars in repairs. Bradley argues that choosing a multi-million dollar new build over essential repairs is a discretionary policy choice rather than a mandatory requirement under the Community Safety and Policing Act.

Internal uncertainty has also surfaced within the board regarding these moves. According to reports from The Sarnia Observer, board vice-chair Anne Marie Gillis admitted to being confused by the legal letter and questioned if it was even sent in error. This follows similar confusion during a recent board meeting where Gillis noted she was unclear on the various budget actions and the lack of direct guidance from the Ministry.

The legal notice from Hudson Sinclair LLP claims that strong mayor powers do not apply to police service board estimates. Bradley told the Journal he received expert municipal advice before using the veto and found no prohibition against doing so in the Community Safety and Policing Act or the Strong Mayor’s Legislation.

Bradley remains focused on taxpayer affordability, noting that adding the project back to the budget would result in further tax increases. He suggested that with a municipal election this October, the public should decide the future of the police station at the ballot box.

The mayor told the Journal he hopes the board will reject a path of litigation, as it is not in the interests of taxpayers during a year when Sarnia needs affordability. The city operating budget currently sits at 196.4 million dollars with a 3.95 per cent property tax increase officially adopted.