TORONTO—The Chiefs of Ontario (COO) is disappointed that the Ontario government has repeatedly ignored its requests to address the glaring gap contained within the Community Safety and Policing Act, which came into force on April 1. As had been reported previously, COO will be moving forward on their promise to take legal action and will be preparing a lawsuit against the government in the coming days.
“Not recognizing or enforcing First Nations laws undermines reconciliation, the actualization of our jurisdiction and self-governance and sends the signal that the federal and provincial governments care less about the safety and well-being of First Nations than other Canadians,” said Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare.
Ontario’s Community Safety and Policing Act excludes the enforcement of First Nations’ laws as a mandatory police function in its current form, which COO says will result in discriminatory and unequal law enforcement in Ontario now that the Act is officially in effect. Since the Act was tabled, COO has tirelessly warned the government of the serious risks it poses to First Nations’ communities, but those warnings continue to be shrugged off by the Ontario government.
In November, the COO passed a resolution that called on Ontario to include First Nations’ laws and bylaws as mandatory police functions in the government’s new policing legislation before it comes into force, to enable the proper levels of law enforcement and funding for police services in First Nations’ communities.
