Two people charged for setting wildfires in Saskatchewan
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WATCH: Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says two people have been charged for setting wildfires.
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CBC
27 minutes ago
- CBC
More funding first, says Charlottetown police about joining new P.E.I. joint enforcement unit
Social Sharing Charlottetown police Chief Brad MacConnell says he's seen the province fund various policing initiatives, but that funding is often not sustained, leaving police departments on the hook for commitments made by the province. Last month, a letter sent by MacConnell and Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown to Justice Minister Bloyce Thompson was made public. It outlined some of the reasons why the Charlottetown Police Services would not be joining a new Joint Enforcement Team aimed at tackling the illicit drug trade and organized crime. The team is made up of members from Summerside Police Services, the Kensington police agency and RCMP. The province is spending $800,000 on the project. MacConnell has seen similar initiatives in the past and they haven't worked out, he said, such as when the previous provincial government created a similar group to tackle biker gangs. "The government had certainly the best intentions to form a task force to deal with outlaw motorcycle gangs, but I can tell you logistically it broke down. Partners retreated. Bikers are still here. And Charlottetown police were left with expectations to try to manage that," he said. "We certainly realize drug enforcement and drug issues are at the forefront of Islanders' minds. While we agree in the spirit of this initiative, we have concerns over logistics, over sustainability of the model." 'We'd like those core issues addressed' MacConnell pointed out despite Charlottetown police not being part of the program, there is still a lot of collaboration such as Charlottetown aiding with technology and digital forensics. "There are some core fundamental policing issues that have to be addressed in regarding the funding of policing here on Prince Edward Island, especially in the capital area, and Charlottetown in particular," he said. "So, we'd like those, you know, core issues addressed before we jump into a situation where we're increasing public expectation and we're not going to be able to deliver." The province had previously provided funding for four Charlottetown police officers to help patrol the area around the Community Outreach Centre on Park Street. There were two more which were going to be funded, but because of city council voting against keeping those services running, that money never came through, MacConnell said. MacConnell also thinks Charlottetown police aren't being recognized for the role they play in drug enforcement already, he said. "Our drug enforcement teams are out pacing any of the other drug enforcement units, I think, in Atlantic Canada. Certainly, I think there is a lack of recognition for that, for the great work Charlottetown is doing," MacConnell said. "I think it is quite unfair for the province at this point to cast any shadow over the city of Charlottetown and our police services when we are just trying to meet the demands of our own mandates." Council questions lack of consultation The issue came up during the regular meeting of Charlottetown's city council on Tuesday night. Coun. Terry Bernard wanted council to have a role in deciding if the city's police would be part of the program. "Decisions are being made that we know nothing about. That's not the way council is supposed to operate. It's more of a concern for me that the process here is you have a level of government asking another level of government, 'Will you join us?' And so, it is not up to staff or the mayor alone to make that decision to say, 'No, we're not.' It's council as a collective," Bernard said during the meeting. Deputy Mayor Alanna Jankov backed up Bernard's position, saying she would have liked to know about the letter and that it could be "politicized" in the P.E.I. Legislature before Thompson made it public. Brown didn't think the letter he signed would be made public by Thompson, he said. "I thought there was a breach there between the two offices," Brown said during the meeting, adding that he thought the correspondence was going to be private. "The chief assisted with the response because of his background in this field." MacConnell believes the matter was operational in nature and didn't need to come to council for approval, though he acknowledges more information should have been provided on what the province was asking city police to do.
CTV News
35 minutes ago
- CTV News
Impaired charge laid after two-vehicle collision
A driver is facing charges after a two-vehicle collision in North Middlesex. On Saturday just after 7 p.m., emergency crews were called to the scene at the intersection of Centre Road and Nairn Road for a serious collision between a passenger vehicle and pickup truck. Four people were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the pickup truck was also taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and was then arrested. A 75-year-old Parkhill woman is facing charges for operation while impaired and dangerous operation.
CBC
43 minutes ago
- CBC
'You definitely can't arrest your way out of this': northeastern Ontario police not rushing to use new powers
Social Sharing While many police forces in southern Ontario cities, including in Toronto, have already started using enhanced powers given to them by the province to clear homeless encampments, police in northeastern Ontario cities say they are taking more of a "wait and see approach." Last week, the Ontario legislature passed Bill 6, the Safer Municipalities Act, which gives police the power to more easily clear encampments on public property by issuing fines, as well as arresting people for trespassing and public drug use. The City of North Bay already has bylaws in place that forbid homeless encampments and open drug use on city-owned property. Municipal bylaw officers work with outreach workers to ask people to leave and assist them in finding other accommodations. When that doesn't work, North Bay police are called in to help. Acting Deputy Police Chief Jeff Warner said the passing of Bill 6 gives police another tool to help deal with drug use and encampments, but he doesn't think it's something his officers will be using very often. "I don't think a lot's going to change with the new act," said Warner. "It is there if we need to use it, but the way things have been going lately over the past year or two with our partners, I don't see us having to lean toward the new legislation very often." Under the new law, people who don't comply with previous directions from police officers and are found to be re-offending when it comes to setting up encampments or using drugs can be fined or arrested. Warner said he doesn't believe those penalties will deter people from breaking the law. "A lot of these people really need, you know, medical help, mental health help, support for drug addiction, that kind of stuff," said Warner. "So with those supports in the community, I think that's sort of the only way to combat it. You definitely can't arrest and charge your way out of this." Greater Sudbury police and Timmins police — which like North Bay work with community partners and bylaw officers to help people living on the streets— are taking a similar approach. "Our partnerships are built on a shared understanding that enforcement alone cannot resolve the root causes of vulnerability in our community," said Greater Sudbury Police spokesperson Kaitlyn Dunn in a statement to CBC News. When asked if Sudbury police would consider utilizing the new powers, Dunn said there would need to be an elevated risk to public safety. "We will continue to explore and invest in multi-sector solutions that address the systemic issues underlying many calls for service while balancing enforcement options in situations where there is an elevated risk to public safety." Timmins Police spokesperson Michelle St. Louis said in a statement that officers are encouraged to take a balanced approach when working with the "marginalized community."
