Ontario Strengthens Police Oversight in Durham Region and Across the Province
Comprehensive Ontario Police Services Act would fix broken Bill 175, restore fairness and accountability to police oversight
Bowmanville, ON – Ontario police officers and the families in Durham Region who depend on them will finally be able to count on a fair and transparent police oversight process that will always put public safety first. On February 19th, Ontario’s Government for the People introduced new legislation, the Comprehensive Ontario Police Services Act, 2019. If passed, this legislation will finally fix the previous government’s Bill 175, which treated police with suspicion while making it increasingly difficult for them to do their jobs.
“Ensuring public safety is government’s most fundamental responsibility – in Durham and province-wide,” said Durham MPP Lindsey Park. “This Act aims to create a stronger police oversight structure, provide police officers with a fairer disciplinary process, and strengthen public confidence through more transparency and new training requirements.”
The Act would streamline the SIU investigation process, which would have persisted under the previous Bill 175 and forced many police officers to labour under months- or years-long investigations even in cases where they had no contact with an individual.
“Making Pickering-Uxbridge and communities across our province safer, while standing up for victims and holding criminals accountable for their actions are our priorities,” said Pickering-Uxbridge MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy. “Our government is committed to restoring fairness and respect for police, enhancing oversight and improving governance, training and transparency.”
If passed, the Comprehensive Ontario Police Services Act will enhance police oversight in Ontario by creating one window for public complaints, reducing delays in the investigation process, and ensuring more accountability.
Whitby MPP Lorne Coe, Chief Government Whip said, “This Legislation, if enacted, creates a stronger police oversight structure and with it, a safer Durham Region, standing up for victims and holding criminals to account.”
By treating police fairly, the Act will ensure the police, the government, and the people of Ontario remain partners in creating a more secure province.
“Ensuring the security of the people is our Government’s most fundamental responsibility,” said Rod Phillips, MPP for Ajax. “The Comprehensive Ontario Police Services Act is a key part of our Government’s promise to keep Ontario safe, stand up for victims, and hold criminals accountable.”
“Bill 175 was the most anti-police piece of legislation in Canadian history,” said Sylvia Jones, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. “It was a disaster. It actively undermined policing efforts. And it undermined public confidence and trust in the work police do.”
“When we were elected one of our first orders of business was to pause implementation of Bill 175, so that we could fix it in a way that continues to ensure oversight – but does so in a way that is balanced, respectful and fair,” said Attorney General Caroline Mulroney. “Our legislation, if passed, will focus investigative resources where they are needed, on criminal activity, within a police oversight system that will ultimately help build safer communities on a shared foundation of restored trust and accountability.”
“Not every example of police courage and service is as high profile as the response to the North York van attack or the Danforth shooting. What those officers have in common with the everyday heroes who serve and protect us is that they deserve our gratitude and respect – not our suspicion and scorn,” said Jones. “That’s why our government for the people is providing police with the tools, resources and support they need to keep our communities safe, stand up for victims and hold offenders accountable for their crimes.”
WHAT THE POLICING COMMUNITY IS SAYING “The work OPPA members do every day keeps the people of our province safe. Unfortunately, challenges in the current legislation make it more difficult for the police to do their jobs. The changes proposed by the government today intend to empower police across Ontario to ensure community safety. We look forward to reviewing details of the Bill and participating in the legislative process.”
– Rob Jamieson, President and CEO, Ontario Provincial Police Association
“Over the past three years, the Police Association of Ontario (PAO) has been focused on advocating for the thoughtful modernization of the Police Services Act with both the former and current provincial governments. The PAO has maintained that Ontario’s front-line sworn and civilian police personnel require the appropriate tools and adequate funding to keep our communities safe, and we have remained clear that we support effective oversight, accountability, and transparency to build the public’s trust in our profession. Ontario’s front-line police personnel welcome today’s announcement by the Ontario Government and are hopeful that this new Comprehensive Ontario Police Services Act will serve to restore fairness and respect for professional policing, make oversight more effective, and improve governance, training, and transparency. The PAO is committed to
working with the provincial government to ensure Ontario continues to be a safe place to live, work, and visit.”
– Bruce Chapman, President, Police Association of Ontario
“The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police has long advocated for significant changes to the Police Services Act in order to assist us in the efficient and effective management of police services that enhance public and officer safety. We believe there are items in this new legislation that are welcome and look forward to continuing to work with the government and stakeholders, knowing that community safety is our absolute priority.”
– Kimberley Greenwood, President, Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and Chief, Barrie Police Service
“By mandating board training on roles, responsibilities and critical skills, the Ontario Government’s new Community Safety and Policing Act will significantly enhance every police board’s ability to make the best possible decisions about local policing policies, strategic plans and budgets. This will directly lead to ever-improving policing and community safety. Everyone will benefit.”
– Phil Huck, Chair, and Fred Kaustinen, Executive Director, Ontario Association of Police Services Boards
QUICK FACTS
-The government plans to introduce a new bill entitled the Comprehensive Ontario Police Services Act, 2019 that would create the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 and the Special Investigations Unit Act, 2019 to repeal and replace the Police Services Act, 2018, and the Ontario Special Investigations Unit Act, 2018. The bill would also repeal the Policing Oversight Act, 2018, and the Ontario Policing Discipline Tribunal Act, 2018.
-First Nations policing provisions laid out in the Police Services Act, 2018, would be adopted providing First Nations communities with greater choice in how their policing services are delivered.
-The amendments to the Police Services Act (1990) the legislation currently in force that add new community safety and well-being planning provisions and came into force on Jan. 1, 2019, would continue to be in force with a new provision requiring the participation of the local police service in the development of the plan.
-The Missing Persons Act, 2018, and Forensic Laboratories Act, 2018, and the majority of the previous amendments to the Coroners Act would remain as passed in the Safer Ontario Act, 2018.
-The new police oversight legislation would respond to Justice Tulloch’s recommendations in the Report of the Independent Police Oversight Review.
-On February 13th, Minister Jones recommended Constable Volodymyr Zvezd’Onkin (54 Division) and Constable Hongfei Zhou (54 Division) for the Ontario Medal of
Police Bravery for their courage in stopping the Danforth Shooter. The two officers had previously been subject to a 6 month investigation by the SIU.
| Rachel Strong
Office of Peter Bethlenfalvy
MPP, Pickering – Uxbridge
| Rachel.strong@ontario.ca
Kristen Cucan
Office of Lindsey Park
MPP, Durham
Kristen.cucan@pc.ola.org |
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| Rob Morton
Office of Lorne Coe
MPP, Whitby
| Lorne.coe@pc.ola.org
Andrew Brander
Office of Rod Phillips
MPP, Ajax
Andrew.brander@ontario.ca |
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