Bradley and Browne: Stall tactics are blocking Ottawa's safety plan for vulnerable people
In 2019, the Ontario Policing and Community Safety Act was brought into force with the hope that it would pave the way for a reduction in street and gender-based violence, drug overdoses, and improve social support in Ontario municipalities. Ottawa residents were promised that the city's mandatory Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) plan would offer a comprehensive framework to address the pressing needs of marginalized communities and uproot systemic discrimination.
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However, after years of delays and bureaucratic obstacles, it's becoming clear that the Province of Ontario and the City of Ottawa have failed to deliver on their promises.
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After Ottawa Council finally passed the CSWB plan in October of 2021, it took nearly three years to implement any of its recommendations. And now, despite the urgent need for action, the committee announced the safety plan will be further revised — and its implementation delayed — in response to the province ordering that all CSWB plans be updated every four years. Such delays only perpetuate the systemic issues the plan is meant to address.
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As the only two public delegates who have consistently attended and followed the CSWB advisory committee meetings, we've witnessed firsthand how ineffective the committee is. The committee only meets once every three months, with little evidence that it's following up on things raised at the previous meeting. Very few people give public delegations at the meetings and very few committee members ask questions of those who do. No supporting documents are provided with meeting agenda items, making it impossible for members of the public to delegate about specific items.
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Begging for information
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A lack of information on key CSWB initiatives has forced residents to beg committee members and other city officials for responses or to file freedom of information requests to get information. Regarding 'street violence,' which falls under the CSWB, we had to file freedom of information requests to get the report developed by Hefid Solutions and CT Labs, to whom Crime Prevention Ottawa (CPO) paid over $50,000 in 2022 to 'refresh' CPO's Ottawa Street Violence and Gang Strategy, which expired five years ago.
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The Safer Futures, Safer Streets report, which we only got in March 2024, covers 2023-2028 and says it 'will guide Crime Prevention Ottawa's operations and activities in addressing street violence over the next five years.' This is despite council voting to merge CPO into the CSWB office in July 2023. The report also says it's focused on identifying 'at-risk' youth and helping them 'make healthier life choices' which is 'the surest path to community safety and a better future for all.' This reveals the report's focus on youth's individual choices as the source of the lack of safety, instead of on systemic discrimination in which the police play a key role. The city has yet to publicly release the report.
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Ottawa Citizen
12-05-2025
- Ottawa Citizen
Bradley and Browne: Stall tactics are blocking Ottawa's safety plan for vulnerable people
In 2019, the Ontario Policing and Community Safety Act was brought into force with the hope that it would pave the way for a reduction in street and gender-based violence, drug overdoses, and improve social support in Ontario municipalities. Ottawa residents were promised that the city's mandatory Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) plan would offer a comprehensive framework to address the pressing needs of marginalized communities and uproot systemic discrimination. Article content Article content Article content However, after years of delays and bureaucratic obstacles, it's becoming clear that the Province of Ontario and the City of Ottawa have failed to deliver on their promises. Article content After Ottawa Council finally passed the CSWB plan in October of 2021, it took nearly three years to implement any of its recommendations. And now, despite the urgent need for action, the committee announced the safety plan will be further revised — and its implementation delayed — in response to the province ordering that all CSWB plans be updated every four years. Such delays only perpetuate the systemic issues the plan is meant to address. Article content As the only two public delegates who have consistently attended and followed the CSWB advisory committee meetings, we've witnessed firsthand how ineffective the committee is. The committee only meets once every three months, with little evidence that it's following up on things raised at the previous meeting. Very few people give public delegations at the meetings and very few committee members ask questions of those who do. No supporting documents are provided with meeting agenda items, making it impossible for members of the public to delegate about specific items. Article content Article content Begging for information Article content Article content A lack of information on key CSWB initiatives has forced residents to beg committee members and other city officials for responses or to file freedom of information requests to get information. Regarding 'street violence,' which falls under the CSWB, we had to file freedom of information requests to get the report developed by Hefid Solutions and CT Labs, to whom Crime Prevention Ottawa (CPO) paid over $50,000 in 2022 to 'refresh' CPO's Ottawa Street Violence and Gang Strategy, which expired five years ago. Article content The Safer Futures, Safer Streets report, which we only got in March 2024, covers 2023-2028 and says it 'will guide Crime Prevention Ottawa's operations and activities in addressing street violence over the next five years.' This is despite council voting to merge CPO into the CSWB office in July 2023. The report also says it's focused on identifying 'at-risk' youth and helping them 'make healthier life choices' which is 'the surest path to community safety and a better future for all.' This reveals the report's focus on youth's individual choices as the source of the lack of safety, instead of on systemic discrimination in which the police play a key role. The city has yet to publicly release the report.
CBC
06-04-2025
- CBC
Ottawa homicides concerning, but not necessarily on the rise, experts say
Social Sharing Ottawa officials are responding to three homicides committed in the past week, but say this is not necessarily indicative of a worrying trend. The three latest reports since March 30 brings to eight the number of homicides recorded in Ottawa this year. Charges have been laid in relation to six of them. "We share the community's concerns about the level of violence in our city," said a statement from the Ottawa Police Service released Friday. "Three lives have been senselessly lost, and families, friends, and loved ones are now grieving." The cases were unrelated, the statement said, and police do not believe there is a current risk to public safety. Despite this, Alta Vista Councillor and Ottawa Police Service Board Vice-Chair Marty Carr said she's heard from residents feeling afraid after the killings. "I understand why people are concerned," she said. "To say we shouldn't be worried, I can understand why people wouldn't accept that. "Three in a week is a lot. It's a lot for this community. It's a lot for the city that's considered to be one of the safest cities in Canada." While three homicides in one week is concerning, experts say it will take time before the numbers show a trend. Homicides in Ottawa reached a record high in 2024, with 25 people killed in 20 cases. Irvin Waller, a professor emeritus and criminologist with the University of Ottawa, says he's not more worried than usual just yet. "Is it consistent with the trend that we've been seeing in the last couple of years? We'll have to wait and see," he said. Waller said while it's not clear whether the number of homicides in the city will continue to increase, it is important that Ottawa rethinks its strategy for prevention. "[Police] react to crime and to homicides," he said. "The city council needs to invest smartly in the things that will reduce the risk of homicides taking place." The city dissolved its crime prevention taskforce, Crime Prevention Ottawa (CPO), in 2023. Instead, it incorporated its mandate into the provincially-mandated Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWB). Both Carr and OPS have said it will take more than enforcement to reduce crime. In its statement, OPS said it is "committed to working with community partners to address the root causes of violence and build long-term solutions." For Carr, those long-term solutions include using the CSWB to build more community supports — including mental health resources, addictions counselling, and youth programming. According to Carr, drug addiction and mental illness were believed to be factors in at least one of the recent homicides.
CBC
30-10-2024
- CBC
China has compromised government networks, stealing valuable info: Canadian cyber spies
Threat agents sponsored by China have "compromised" government networks over the past five years, collecting valuable information, according to a new report from Canada's cyber spy agency. The Communications Security Establishment, responsible for foreign signals intelligence, cyber operations and cyber security, released its updated national cyber threat assessment on Wednesday, which flags what the agency sees as the most pressing cyber threats facing individuals and organizations in Canada. Their latest report, which casts ahead to the 2025-2026 fiscal year, names the People's Republic of China (PRC) as "the most comprehensive cyber security threat facing Canada today" and its scale, tradecraft and ambitions in cyberspace as "second to none." And with troubling success. According to the Canadian intelligence agency's report, state-sponsored actors persistently conduct cyber espionage campaigns against federal, provincial, territorial, municipal and Indigenous government networks in Canada. "PRC cyber threat actors have compromised and maintained access to multiple government networks over the past five years, collecting communications and other valuable information," said CSE. At least 20 networks associated with government of Canada agencies and departments have been compromised by PRC cyber-threat actors, said the agency. "While all known federal government compromises have been resolved, it is very likely that the actors responsible for these intrusions dedicated significant time and resources to learn about the target networks," reads the report. China targets government networks and public officials to try and give it an advantage in China-Canada bilateral relations and commercial matters, said CSE. Russia, Iran and India also named "For example, provincial and territorial governments are likely a valuable target given that they have decision-making power over regional trade and commerce, including resource extraction (e.g., energy and critical minerals)," reads the report. "The information collected is also likely used to support the PRC's malign influence and interference activities against Canada's democratic processes and institutions." WATCH | Then top-spy warns about the dangers of TikTok: Top spy warns about the dangers of TikTok 6 months ago Duration 2:24 CSIS director David Vigneault says using TikTok is risky and the potential for the government of China to access personal data from the social media platform poses a 'threat to the way we live.' China's cyber prowess also extends to supporting Being's goal of silencing activists, journalists and diaspora communities. "The PRC government very likely leverages Chinese-owned technology platforms, some of which likely co-operate with the PRC's intelligence and security services, to facilitate transnational repression," said the report. Wednesday's report does not name platforms. Previously, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service has warned against using the wildly popular video app TikTok. Former director David Vigneault told CBC in an interview it's "very clear" from the app's design that data gleaned from its users "is available to the government of China." CSE's report also names Russia, Iran, North Korea and India as cyber adversaries. Russian cyber threat actors, it says."are very likely targeting the Canadian government, military, private sector, and critical infrastructure networks." It also notes that as Canada and India's relationship continues to deteriorate, India will likely direct its burgeoning cyber program against Ottawa's networks to spy. The already tense relationship has nosedived in the past two weeks after Canada accused India of orchestrating a campaign of violence on Canadian soil, including murders and extortion.
