Police Services Act changes must be made before it’s too late
Earlier this year, the Ontario government promised to update the Police Services Act to bring police governance in Ontario into the modern era. The act, which provides the framework for community safety in this province, has not been updated since 1990. Policing has changed, and so has society. Citizens want — and deserve — to know where their tax dollars are going. They want their services, including their police services, to be effective and accountable.
Everyone agrees that the act needs to be updated. The Ontario Association of Police Services Boards (OAPSB) and others welcomed the government’s announcement. We’ve been working with the government, providing input and have been pleased with the government’s commitment to making much needed changes. This would be the first real update to the legislation in more than 25 years.
OAPSB is the leading voice of police governance in the province, and we have been advocating for this legislative reform for many years. Why? Because we recognize that it’s the only way we can ensure boards govern policing in their communities more effectively. Strong governance keeps people and organizations accountable; it inspires community confidence and leads to better decision-making. We are here to support accountable and effective policing, for everyone those police services are sworn to protect. OAPSB identified a number of priorities for the government to focus on. Labour reform is a tough issue, but it needs to be tackled. Police labour relations need to be modernized to look more like practices in other areas of government. We think it’s time to let others do some of the jobs officers are now doing, but don’t need to be done by armed police. Police officers should be policing, not guarding potholes. This alone has the potential to save millions of dollars across the province.
We believe police oversight by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and other agencies should be strengthened. This will not only keep police accountable, but it will restore public confidence in police actions. Police chiefs should also have the power to suspend officers charged with egregious offences without pay. Ontario is the only province in Canada that requires suspension with pay, even after an officer is charged with serious crime such as aggravated assault or murder, at a cost of millions of dollars per year.
Cooperation between police and other agencies, such as health and social services, also needs to be improved. Police are not mental health practitioners or social workers; ensuring people get the help they need from the appropriate service provider means they will be less likely to require a visit from the police later.
Governance training for police boards is high on the list. Boards are responsible — practically, ethically, and legally — for more than ever before. Board members need the tools to deal with these new realities effectively and with confidence. To provide strategic direction for police in their communities, police board members need to know how to make collective, strategic decisions, understand public safety challenges, and understand what constitutes misconduct. We believe the government should accredit and fund mandatory board training to ensure it is consistent and effective. Training doesn’t just help the board; it is a benefit for the community as well.
Boards should also be able to seek out independent expertise and advice when they need it. Their performance should be evaluated regularly to ensure they are meeting their communities’ needs and expectations. After all, boards are responsible to their communities. These are all important, and necessary, modernizations. The Police Services Act review was originally promised for spring, which came and went. We are now into fall. Time is ticking down on yet another year. With an election approaching, we know that many government endeavours will fall by the wayside. At the risk of sounding impatient, we need to move forward now.
We’re calling on the Ontario government to move the promised review forward. Modernization is long overdue. These changes will mean that the efforts of local forces will reflect the needs, values and expectations of the communities they protect — now and in the future. We simply cannot afford to wait another 25 years.