Kitchener council approves CCTV pilot amid divided council vote

Kitchener councillors voted to allow Waterloo Regional Police to install closed-circuit television cameras in the city.

Kitchener council has approved a one-year pilot project for the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and automatic licence plater readers.

The pilot, proposed by the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS), would see cameras installed in two areas of the city: near Fairview Park Mall and along King Street in downtown Kitchener.

Police will be responsible for owning, installing, operating and maintaining the cameras.

Last month, police called the cameras an investigative tool to fight crime but promised there would be no live monitoring of neighbourhoods. While the facial recognition software would be turned off, automated licence plate readers would be active. As for any unused footage, it would be deleted after 30 days.

While the plan received council approval, it was not unanimous.

Marry Berry Vrbanovic, who was absent during an earlier committee discussion on the proposal, expressed reservations during Monday’s meeting.

“I understand the rationale of the program and the intent; however, I also believe that this is something we don’t need to be on the leading edge of,” Vrbanovic said. “Fundamentally, for me, I have some concerns around where do we start drawing the line around the role of society in terms of having cameras that are ubiquitous everywhere.”

Other members of council voiced support for the initiative.

“I think this is an important tool within our toolbelt to ensure greater safety and giving confidence to our residents,” said Ward 6 Coun. Paul Singh. “Wherever we can ensure that there’s one less incident, that’s efficient for me.”

Expansion debate looms

Waterloo was supposed to get CCTV cameras in January after approving the program, but as of early May, they hadn’t yet been installed.

North Dumfries also recently agreed to allow cameras in the Northumberland Street and Alps Road area – a part of the township near the 401 corridor that’s experienced a rash of thefts from businesses.

WRPS said the goal is to eventually have 52 cameras spread across the region’s seven municipalities.

On Tuesday, the Region of Waterloo’s Sustainability, Infrastructure, and Development Committee will decide whether to allow the cameras on region-owned utility poles.

The report going to council outlined which regional properties would see the cameras. In Waterloo: Uptown Waterloo and King St. and University Ave. In Kitchener: Downtown Kitchener and Fairview Mall. In Cambridge: Downtown Galt and Hespeler Road.