LITTLE CURRENT—With the new police services board legislation and implementation not expected to be in place until at least early 2024 and the province-wide municipal elections having been held last fall, the new members of the Manitoulin Policing Advisory Committee (CPAC) met for the first-time last week.
“I know there have been lots of changes in our municipalities, and our last meeting was in May,” said Al Boyd, CPAC chair. He pointed the group usually takes the summer off, but with the uncertainty of when the police service boards would be implemented by the province, and with the municipal elections that took place in the fall, it was decided to hold off on having a meeting until all of this became clear.
After the election (in which he was again elected to the council of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands), Mr. Boyd told the group, “policing has always been in my heart,” and that his council allowed him to remain on the CPAC committee. “I am looking forward to working with all of you.”
Other members of the CPAC committee include Kelly Chaytor of Gore Bay, Steve Shaffer for the municipality of Central Manitoulin, Perry Chatwell for Central Manitoulin, Tehkummah councillor Steve Wood, Frank Klodnicki of Assiginack, Jack Bould, councillor in Gordon-Barrie Island, Bryan Barker, Mayor of Billings Township, David Deeg, a Burpee and Mills councillor who was filling in for fellow councillor Kim Johnston at the meeting. Manitoulin OPP Inspector Detachment Commander Megan Moriarity also attended the meeting.
Inspector Moriarity said, “I would like to welcome everyone here tonight who are volunteering and taking on the part of a member of this committee. You are the voice of your community, and if you have any issues or concerns you would like to talk about email me any time and I will do my best to get back to you right away.”
“It is going to be an interesting year,” said Mr. Boyd. “The legislation for the transition for the creation of new police services boards has not been passed by the province as of yet.” He noted this legislation may not take effect until the winter of 2024. “When it does, we will inform everyone. We will see how the transition goes,” he said, noting members will have to go through mandatory training. “I don’t see much change for members of the police service board except for more responsibilities.”
“We usually have a chair for our committee and elect someone as secretary of the committee who has meeting agendas and minutes printed and distributed,” said Mr. Boyd.
An election for chair of the CPAC committee took place, with Mr. Boyd being the lone person nominated, and was voted in unanimously by committee members.
Mr. Shaffer inquired whether there should be a deputy chair in place, with the transitioning of the CPAC to the new police services board to eventually take place.
It was pointed out by Mr. Boyd, a retired police officer, that under the new police services board, the provincial legislation indicates that any former OPP officer cannot sit on the board due to transparency reasons. “Then I may have to step down at that point.”
However, Inspector Moriarity said that this has not been formalized and has been under discussion provincially for the past two years.
Mr. Barker volunteered for the position of deputy chair of the CPAC and was voted in unanimously by the committee. As well, Ms. Chaytor put her name forward and was voted in unanimously as the secretary of the CPAC committee.
