Latest news with #CommunitySafetyandPolicingAct
Ottawa Citizen
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Lalonde and Papineau: Take off the kid gloves for public oversight of Ottawa Police Service
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS), like other police forces across the province, are treated with kid gloves when it comes to public accountability. The OPS receives even less public oversight than other areas of the city. Article content Article content The OPS is governed under the provincial Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA). One key element of the CSPA is a civilian oversight board, which is handled by the Ottawa Police Services Board (OPSB). There are three city councillors, three provincial appointees and one citizen appointed by the city. Police Service Board members are governed by a code of conduct. Article content Article content To ensure that politicians aren't directing police on what and who they can investigate, boards can't direct the operations of the police. That's a good thing. However, how far is that taken? What is the adequate level of oversight for the OPS? How much public oversight is actually done? Article content OPSB meetings are split between public and 'in camera' (behind closed doors) meetings. Article content Before the COVID pandemic, the OPSB held in-person public meetings. Anyone could go in person and participate. At the start of the pandemic, the OPSB went virtual. Meetings were held online, and they have never turned back. Anyone can watch the meetings, but only those selected in advance to participate are allowed to make statements, and then they are ushered back out of the online meeting room, which limits public dialogue. To boot, what you plan to say must be approved ahead of time. It's a close-knit, gated-community police board. Article content Article content Public agendas for the OPSB encompass pages of feel-good reports, including the monthly compliments report. Compliments are redacted letters from the community giving thanks for a police encounter. Article content Article content The OPSB also has a much more substantive agenda for its in-camera sessions. At every meeting, the chair dutifully cites the legal cover for going in camera. There are good reasons to have some items discussed behind closed doors. Legal and specific employee disciplinary actions are two. That should be it. Article content Since October 2023, the OPSB has had a standing in camera agenda item called 'Updates on Demonstrations and Events Management'. The OPSB discusses in camera the police actions related to a fundamental right protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms: 'freedom of peaceful assembly.' Why are discussions pertaining to this bedrock of our democracy done behind closed doors month after month? What operational issues related to peaceful assembly require secrecy? Given the concerning attempts to curtail civil liberties among our neighbours to the south, these questions necessitate serious consideration.
Ottawa Citizen
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Lalonde and Papineau: Take off the kids gloves for public oversight of Ottawa Police Service
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS), like other police forces across the province, are treated with kid gloves when it comes to public accountability. The OPS receives even less public oversight than other areas of the city. Article content Article content The OPS is governed under the provincial Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA). One key element of the CSPA is a civilian oversight board, which is handled by the Ottawa Police Services Board (OPSB). There are three city councillors, three provincial appointees and one citizen appointed by the city. Police Service Board members are governed by a code of conduct. Article content Article content To ensure that politicians aren't directing police on what and who they can investigate, boards can't direct the operations of the police. That's a good thing. However, how far is that taken? What is the adequate level of oversight for the OPS? How much public oversight is actually done? Article content OPSB meetings are split between public and 'in camera' (behind closed doors) meetings. Article content Before the COVID pandemic, the OPSB held in-person public meetings. Anyone could go in person and participate. At the start of the pandemic, the OPSB went virtual. Meetings were held online, and they have never turned back. Anyone can watch the meetings, but only those selected in advance to participate are allowed to make statements, and then they are ushered back out of the online meeting room, which limits public dialogue. To boot, what you plan to say must be approved ahead of time. It's a close-knit, gated-community police board. Article content Article content Public agendas for the OPSB encompass pages of feel-good reports, including the monthly compliments report. Compliments are redacted letters from the community giving thanks for a police encounter. Article content The OPSB also has a much more substantive agenda for its in-camera sessions. At every meeting, the chair dutifully cites the legal cover for going in camera. There are good reasons to have some items discussed behind closed doors. Legal and specific employee disciplinary actions are two. That should be it. Article content Since October 2023, the OPSB has had a standing in camera agenda item called 'Updates on Demonstrations and Events Management'. The OPSB discusses in camera the police actions related to a fundamental right protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms: 'freedom of peaceful assembly.' Why are discussions pertaining to this bedrock of our democracy done behind closed doors month after month? What operational issues related to peaceful assembly require secrecy? Given the concerning attempts to curtail civil liberties among our neighbours to the south, these questions necessitate serious consideration.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Inspector General of Policing Releases First Spotlight Report on the State of Public Order Policing in Ontario
Inspection identifies a strong public order policing system in Ontario, with recommendations addressing growing demand and emerging strains TORONTO, May 26, 2025 /CNW/ - Ontario's Inspector General of Policing, Ryan Teschner, has found that Ontario's public order policing system is currently strong, and is also emphasizing the need to address the rising complexity and demand of policing major public events. In his first-ever Spotlight Report—Policing of Protests and Major Events: Public Order Maintenance in Ontario—released today, he calls for urgent action to ensure the province's readiness and resilience. "The reality is that the scope and magnitude of public order events are taking on a new shape," said Inspector General Teschner. "This new shape makes it evident that public order policing is a whole-of-province priority and responsibility. To maintain the highest level of public order policing in Ontario, we need to invest in it appropriately to ensure it's not stretched too thin." Inspector General Teschner notes that Ontario's public order policing system remains responsive to current needs, with no recent cases where Public Order Units (POUs) failed to respond in a timely manner. However, the system is showing signs of strain. A 184 per cent increase in POU deployments between 2018 and 2022 reflects a growing number of large-scale events requiring police presence—bringing with it rising costs, officer fatigue, and mounting pressure on available resources. To ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of public order policing, a coordinated and information-driven response is needed from police services, boards, and the provincial government. "I recognize the risks and complexity involved in policing protests and major events, as well as the dedication of public order unit officers across Ontario," said Inspector General Teschner. "These officers are often stretched too thin, leading to fatigue and recruitment challenges for this vital role." The report follows a province-wide inspection, conducted by the Inspectorate of Policing, of Ontario's 43 municipal police services and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). It includes 12 recommendations to strengthen the province's public order policing system, including: Formalize the Ontario Public Order Hub: The 'Hub' – comprised of the OPP and municipal police services with POUs – coordinates deployments and intelligence for major events. The Ministry of the Solicitor General should formalize and make permanent its existence through legislative changes. Create a Uniform Approach to Risk-Assessment: The Ministry and the Hub should develop a standardized tool to guide individual police service in deciding when and how to deploy POUs based on key risk factors. Define Reasonable Response Times: Police boards and chiefs of police should assess local needs, population characteristics, and infrastructure to establish appropriate POU response times under the Community Safety and Policing Act. Strengthen Emergency Partnerships: The Ministry, working with the Ontario Public Order Hub, should formalize collaboration between POUs and emergency services through joint training, agreements, and legislative updates. Enhance POU Officer Training: Police services should expand training offerings for POU members to include cultural awareness, historical context, and socio-political dynamics to support respectful and effective public order policing. "Global events can quickly spark local unrest, and every Ontario police service must be ready. Maintaining public order in these moments requires credible intelligence, clear planning, and professional restraint—especially under public scrutiny," said Inspector General Teschner. "Preparedness not only strengthens public trust but also supports officer wellness in high-pressure situations. My recommendations focus on enhancing this readiness to ensure effective, lawful, and community-sensitive policing." LEARN MORE Strengthening Ontario's Public Order Policing System About the Inspector General of Policing Appointed in March 2023, Ryan Teschner is Ontario's first Inspector General of Policing with duties and authorities under the Community Safety and Policing Act. He leads the Inspectorate of Policing, an oversight body dedicated to ensuring high-quality policing and governance across Ontario. For more information, visit and follow us on LinkedIn and X. MEDIA CONTACT: Ashika TheyyilInspectorate of PolicingIOPMedia@ SOURCE Inspectorate of Policing View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
Cision Canada
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Inspector General of Policing Releases First Spotlight Report on the State of Public Order Policing in Ontario Français
TORONTO, May 26, 2025 /CNW/ - Ontario's Inspector General of Policing, Ryan Teschner, has found that Ontario's public order policing system is currently strong, and is also emphasizing the need to address the rising complexity and demand of policing major public events. In his first-ever Spotlight Report— Policing of Protests and Major Events: Public Order Maintenance in Ontario —released today, he calls for urgent action to ensure the province's readiness and resilience. "The reality is that the scope and magnitude of public order events are taking on a new shape," said Inspector General Teschner. "This new shape makes it evident that public order policing is a whole-of-province priority and responsibility. To maintain the highest level of public order policing in Ontario, we need to invest in it appropriately to ensure it's not stretched too thin." Inspector General Teschner notes that Ontario's public order policing system remains responsive to current needs, with no recent cases where Public Order Units (POUs) failed to respond in a timely manner. However, the system is showing signs of strain. A 184 per cent increase in POU deployments between 2018 and 2022 reflects a growing number of large-scale events requiring police presence—bringing with it rising costs, officer fatigue, and mounting pressure on available resources. To ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of public order policing, a coordinated and information-driven response is needed from police services, boards, and the provincial government. "I recognize the risks and complexity involved in policing protests and major events, as well as the dedication of public order unit officers across Ontario," said Inspector General Teschner. "These officers are often stretched too thin, leading to fatigue and recruitment challenges for this vital role." The report follows a province-wide inspection, conducted by the Inspectorate of Policing, of Ontario's 43 municipal police services and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). It includes 12 recommendations to strengthen the province's public order policing system, including: Formalize the Ontario Public Order Hub: The 'Hub' – comprised of the OPP and municipal police services with POUs – coordinates deployments and intelligence for major events. The Ministry of the Solicitor General should formalize and make permanent its existence through legislative changes. Create a Uniform Approach to Risk-Assessment: The Ministry and the Hub should develop a standardized tool to guide individual police service in deciding when and how to deploy POUs based on key risk factors. Define Reasonable Response Times: Police boards and chiefs of police should assess local needs, population characteristics, and infrastructure to establish appropriate POU response times under the Community Safety and Policing Act. Strengthen Emergency Partnerships: The Ministry, working with the Ontario Public Order Hub, should formalize collaboration between POUs and emergency services through joint training, agreements, and legislative updates. Enhance POU Officer Training: Police services should expand training offerings for POU members to include cultural awareness, historical context, and socio-political dynamics to support respectful and effective public order policing. "Global events can quickly spark local unrest, and every Ontario police service must be ready. Maintaining public order in these moments requires credible intelligence, clear planning, and professional restraint—especially under public scrutiny," said Inspector General Teschner. "Preparedness not only strengthens public trust but also supports officer wellness in high-pressure situations. My recommendations focus on enhancing this readiness to ensure effective, lawful, and community-sensitive policing." About the Inspector General of Policing Appointed in March 2023, Ryan Teschner is Ontario's first Inspector General of Policing with duties and authorities under the Community Safety and Policing Act. He leads the Inspectorate of Policing, an oversight body dedicated to ensuring high-quality policing and governance across Ontario. For more information, visit and follow us on LinkedIn and X.
