MANITOULIN—A date for the legislation to be proclaimed for the new police service boards in the province to replace the current community police advisory committees will come down in the next few weeks.
“This information was just shared with me that the new legislation will be in place on April 1,” said Al Boyd, chair of the Manitoulin Community Police Advisory Committee (CPAC). “But there has been talk of a transition period to allow the new boards to get into place.”
In a letter to Mr. Boyd dated January 30, Phil Whitton, superintendent municipal policing bureau commander with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reads, “April 1, 2024, has been proclaimed as the official date on which the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 (CSPA) will come into force. At that time, it will repeal and replace the current Police Services Act, 1990 (PSA).”
Superintendent Whitton also explained, “We wish to confirm that the OPP 2024 annual billing statements remain in effect after April 1, 2024, and municipalities will continue to be billed in accordance with costs in the statements.”
Mr. Boyd said the province had approved the request for Manitoulin to have a separate police service board in 2023. He pointed out originally a proposal had been made to have every Island municipality represented on the new board, including Cockburn Island, First Nations representation through the Wikwemikong Tribal Police Services and UCCM Police Services, as well as Cockburn Island, two selected community members and two volunteer members. But that was deemed too many and a new proposal was requested.
Members of the new police services board will have to undergo training. “It will be a totally different concept than is in place now,” said Mr. Boyd. “Now the representatives will have to go through training, fill out reports and put together strategic and safety planning. And for example, if a complaint is made against a police officer, it will come to the police board before it goes up the line of command for recommendations.”
Manitoulin OPP Inspector Detachment Commander Robert Walsh explained in an email, “The primary focus thus far has been the switch from traditional police service boards to the detachment boards, however, the act extends beyond that. Once I have received clarification on some specifics, I will reach out to discuss.”
In August of 2023, The Expositor reported that the Manitoulin Municipal Association (MMA) had received confirmation of approval from the province to have its own police service board.
Sarah Caldwell, assistant deputy minister, strategic policy division of the Ministry of the Solicitor General, indicated the following board composition has been approved for posting: Assiginack, Billings, Burpee and Mills, Central Manitoulin, Cockburn Island, Gordon/Barrie Island, Town of Gore Bay, Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands and Tehkummah. The new board will be made up of six council seats, two community representative seats and two provincial appointments. The municipalities will, in some cases, share a representative.
