Good evening folks,
I’d like to explain my Yes vote to approve the $603 000 budget to purchase the Halifax Regional Police (HRP) Armored Rescue Vehicle (ARV).
1) Here are the facts I was aware of/my thoughts before today’s meeting:
-The ARV is a tool required by Emergency Response Team (ERT) police officers to keep them safe (and depending on circumstances, to keep suspects safe) in dangerous situations.
-The ARV is used in different situations than the F350 trucks that have already been purchased. For example, an injured person on a stretcher can be fit into the ARV, but not (behind armour) in the F350 trucks.
-The ARV itself will not be equipped with weapons. There will be ports in the vehicle for passing items through, such as a cell phone or pepper spray. A gun could also fit through these ports.
-We have access to the RCMP ARV when the vehicle and trained personnel are available. Thirty (30) % of the time the HRP requires the ARV, it is not available.
-An occupational health and safety complaint has been made to the Department of Labour by HRP officers against their employer, HRM, for not providing them with the equipment required to do their jobs safely.
-I care about the psychological and physical health and safety of all HRM employees. First responders choose to put themselves in harm’s way to protect us, and we should provide them with the proper tools to protect themselves at work.
-When Chief MacLean joined the HRP, we had a rescue vehicle: an old Brinks truck (it has since been retired). It is not a new idea to outfit police forces with ARVs. Most cities of similar and larger sizes in Canada have them.
Chief McLean first spoke about the ARV to council at 22:30 in this video:
Budget Committee – Continuation – March 7, 2025
2) Despite all of these compelling reasons to purchase the ARV, I was still planning to vote No before our meeting today because:
-In the past, HRP and other police forces have used violence against the public where they should not have. If used improperly, HRP could use violence against the public from inside the ARV.
-I heard from hundreds of residents that were against this purchase. No one reached out in favour of this purchase.
-I care about the psychological and physical health and safety of all members of the public.
-When making budget decisions, I felt that there were other priorities on which to spend our tax dollars.
-Approximately 800 people are killed or injured in traffic collisions each year in HRM. The imbalance of these numbers compared to the number police injured on the job is troubling to me.
3) Why I voted Yes today to fund the vehicle:
-All of the reasons listed in Section 1
-We now have a full time (17 member) ERT Team. In 2019/20 (when the ARV was not purchased by council) the ERT was staffed part time.
-Council learned that under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Department of Labour could instruct HRM to provide the ARV to HRP.
-Council learned that by deciding not to purchase the ARV, HRM council could be found liable or face penalties under OHSA or The Westray Bill
-Not particularly helpful when trying to be transparent, but it is relevant to note that council receives legal advice and intergovernmental relations information in camera (private) that we cannot share, that effects our decision making.
Ultimately, I felt it would be irresponsible for me to vote No after considering the information and advice we received from the CAO and solicitor in camera.
You can watch the public debate starting at 5:30:10 in the video from today’s meeting:
Budget Committee – Continuation – March 21, 2025
Photos of ARVs across Canada are found on page 34 (page 46 of the pdf) of the Budget Adjustment List briefing note:
2025/26 Budget Adjustment List for Consideration – Mar 19/25 Budget Committee | Halifax.ca
Update, 22 March 2025. A Q&A list has been prepared by HRM:
Q&A – Armoured Rescue Vehicle (ARV)
Q: What is an armoured rescue vehicle (ARV)?
A: An armoured rescue vehicle (ARV) is a specialized piece of equipment used in critical incidents. An ARV is designed to provide protection during high-risk operations. It is a commercially made four-wheel drive vehicle with reinforced armoured plating to provide enhanced high-level protection. The vehicle can carry first-responders and travel over varying terrain.
There would be no weaponry attached to the ARV. The vehicle would provide a secure environment for officers to respond to a variety of emergency calls and safely remove members of the public from dangerous situations. An ARV is an important tool for the Halifax Regional Police (HRP) to be prepared to respond to serious events. It is not a vehicle that would be seen regularly on municipal streets. It would only be used for specific incidents, training or maintenance purposes and would have strict policies surrounding its use.
Q: Why has HRP requested an ARV?
A: Police agencies across the country use ARVs to better protect officers and the public during high-risk incidents.
Policing is a complex and dangerous job. Every day, officers are sent into a variety of situations with little-to-no information to indicate what they are walking into. While it is not possible to mitigate all risks associated with policing, HRP and the Halifax Regional Municipality have a responsibility to provide necessary equipment that is essential to the protection of officers and the public during emergencies.
Q: What will the ARV be used for?
A: An ARV is not a vehicle that would be seen on the streets regularly, but it would be an important tool in HRP’s toolkit so they have the resources to respond to very serious events.
The vehicle would be used by HRP’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) for the following types of calls:
•Members of the public/officer rescue
•Barricaded subject
•Hostage-taking
•Active shooter(s)
•High-risk warrant services
•VIP details
•Tactical training
•High-risk prisoner escorts
•Any other high-risk situation where there is a reasonable belief a weapon is present and the utilization of the ARV could prevent death or injury to the public or members of the service
•Any other situation if authorized by the Chief of Police or designate including, but not limited to, disaster recovery assistance
Q: What is HRP’s Emergency Response Team (ERT)?
A: HRP’s ERT responds to high-risk calls that exceed the capabilities, equipment or training of regular patrol members.
Included in these types of calls are:
•Armed and barricaded persons
•Hostage situations
•High-risk arrests
•High-risk warrants
•High-risk K-9 deployments
•Close protection details
In 2023, HRP’s ERT responded to 150 events, 55 of which were deemed to be critical incidents. ERT also recovered 46 firearms during their operations. The types of firearms which were recovered ranged from pistols to high-powered assault style rifles.
These types of events present a high risk of injury, including the risk of fatalities to officers and the public and an ARV is a means of mitigating the associated risks.
Q: How does HRP respond to these types of events now, without the ARV?
A: When a high-risk situation occurs in HRP’s jurisdiction and it is determined that an ARV would be an appropriate piece of equipment to deploy, a request is made by a senior member of HRP to a senior member of the RCMP to utilize their Tactical Armoured Vehicle (TAV – another name for an ARV).
Q: How often is HRP requesting the use of the RCMP’s TAV?
A: Between April 30, 2022, and February 1, 2025, HRP requested the RCMP’s TAV in relation to 23 incidents. These incidents included firearms calls, barricade shooter, search warrants for drugs and firearms, and a homicide arrest warrant.
It is important to note that the RCMP’s TAV is not always available when HRP requests it. In 2024, the RCMP TAV was unavailable to HRP an average of 33 per cent of the time as it was in use or undergoing maintenance.
Q: Do other jurisdictions use an ARV?
A: Yes, from coast-to-coast, many urban police forces within Canada have ARVs as part of their operational response capability. The majority of the police agencies have had an ARV in operation for more than a decade.
Q: What are some examples of times other jurisdictions have used an ARV?
A: The Portapique mass casualty event in 2020, the Fredericton shooting in 2018, and the Moncton shooting in 2014 are some of the tragic incidents seen in recent years where an ARV was used.
Q: How much will the ARV cost?
A: The estimated cost of the proposed ARV is $600,000.
Q: What is the difference between an ARV and the other two vehicles that HRP just received?
A: The ARV and the F-350 armoured trucks serve different purposes.
The ARV is only to be used in high-risk situations which will be outlined in policy. The F-350 armoured trucks will look like regular trucks and be used daily by HRP’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) as its primary method of transportation when responding to calls.
Q: Is the ARV part of an occupational health and safety response?
A: Yes, an occupational health and safety complaint was filed regarding HRP’s lack of access to adequate tools, specifically an ARV, for high-risk scenarios. The ARV is seen as essential for reducing the risk to officers and the public in very specific, highly dangerous situations.
Q: How will the ARV be procured?
A: The purchase of the ARV will comply with the Halifax Regional Municipality’s Procurement Policy and relevant regulations. More information on the procurement process will be available later this spring.
Q: When will the ARV start being used by HRP?
A: It is expected the ARV will be available for use by the HRP within the year, pending results of the procurement process.
Public Trust – ARVs and Body-Worn Cameras
Q: How will the ARV contribute to building public trust in policing?
A: The proper use of an ARV helps ensure the safety of the public and officers. Trust is built through delivering on the commitment to public safety through the appropriate use of all tools available to the police.
Q: Will the ARV change the way HRP interacts with the public?
A: No, the ARV is not intended to alter day-to-day policing or community engagement. The ARV would not be used for routine crowd control or demonstrations. It will be used only in high-risk situations to protect lives — both officers and members of the public. Community policing and engagement will continue to be a core focus of HRP’s approach. The ARV adds a layer of protection in critical incidents, but does not change the HRP’s commitment to respectful, collaborative public interaction.
Q: How will the public be informed about the ARV’s use?
A: HRP is committed to transparency. A policy will guide ARV use, including internal approvals and oversight. Use of the ARV will be tracked and reported as part of HRP’s commitment to open and accountable policing. HRP will also engage with the community to answer questions and explain how and why the ARV is used, reinforcing trust and understanding.
Q: What safeguards are in place to prevent misuse of the ARV?
A: Policies are being developed to clearly outline when the ARV can and cannot be used. These include internal approval processes, storage and maintenance protocols, and limits on deployment. The ARV will not be used for routine crowd control or demonstrations, routine patrols or non-emergency events. Any use outside of defined policy would require HRP senior-level approval and justification.
Q: How will the use of body-worn cameras contribute to building trust in policing?
A: By demonstrating the police’s commitment to transparency and accountability, body-worn cameras (BWCs) can help to build public confidence in law enforcement and foster stronger relationships between police and the communities they serve.
BWCs provide a clear, unbiased visual record of police interactions, helping to resolve disputes and complaints, as well as demonstrate the fairness of police actions.
Additionally, the BWC footage can also serve as a valuable resource for training purposes, allowing police to review real-life situations and identify areas for improvement of officer techniques and procedures.