Latest news with #MichaelKerzner
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- General
- Toronto Sun
Ontario sex offender registry changes to make police info sharing easier
Amendments will allow OPP to easily share information with law enforcement agencies, specifically in U.S. PC MPP Michael Kerzner attends Question Period at Queen's Park in Toronto on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Photo by Cole Burston / THE CANADIAN PRESS Removing barriers and bolstering border security are behind impending changes to Ontario's sex offender registry. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account On Wednesday, the Ontario government will propose amendments to sections of Christopher's Law — which governs the Ontario Sex Offender and Trafficker Registry (OSOTR) — that will allow Ontario Provincial Police to more easily share information with other law enforcement agencies, specifically those south of the border. Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner told the Toronto Sun the measures will allow sex offenders who commit crimes abroad to be monitored and tracked while in the province. 'We're working with American and international law enforcement partners to authorize information sharing on convicted criminals to ensure we do everything we can to prevent harm before it happens, building safer communities across the province,' he said. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Christopher's Law was named in memory of 11-year-old Christopher Stephenson, who in 1988 was kidnapped at knifepoint from Shopper's World Brampton by Joseph Fredericks — who by then had already sexually assaulted eight children and had just been released from prison for molesting a 10-year-old boy in Ottawa. Christopher's body was found a short distance from the mall, along McLaughlin Rd., on Father's Day. Read More Ontario's registry was established in 2001 to track sex offenders who don't meet the criteria to be named dangerous offenders. While current legislation already allows for information sharing, recent amendments to the Community Safety and Policing Act limits the disclosure of information to police services in the United States, including the FBI. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. New regulations will also require registered sex offenders to report travel related information, including passport status, in addition to mandatory data like current home, work and school addresses. The province says the move aligns with national initiatives to increase information sharing across the Canada-U.S. border, part of efforts to bolster security by both the provincial and federal government. On Tuesday, federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree unveiled a slate of new measures meant to fortify Canada's borders — including powers permitting the RCMP to share data on registered sex offenders with counterparts across Canada and the world. 'With this new legislation, we'll ensure Canada has the right tools to keep our borders secure, combat transnational organized crime and fentanyl, and disrupt illicit financing,' Anandasangaree told a press conference. bpassifiume@ X: @bryanpassifiume Columnists Sunshine Girls Crime Columnists Sunshine Girls
CTV News
28-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Police helicopter slated to be in Windsor by 2027: Ministry of Solicitor General
An RCMP helicopter is pictured in this undated file photo. (CTV News) A police helicopter is slated to be in Windsor by 2027, according to the Ministry of the Solicitor General. If approved, Ontario's budget calls for a $57-million investment for police in Windsor and Niagara to secure the border. The Ministry won't say how much of that amount will be spent in Windsor, but officials do say the province will help Windsor Police Service pay for it. 'We will provide funding to the police service to hire and train tactical flight officers,' Dakota Moniz, spokesperson for Solicitor General Michael Kerzner told CTV News in a statement. CTV News has inquired how much funding will be coming to WPS but SOLGEN has yet to provide specifics. WPS officials don't have any details yet either. Moniz says the province will look to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to 'operate and provide maintenance' of the helicopter. CTV News is waiting for confirmation and details from the OPP on helicopter deployment. If the budget is approved, SOLGEN says the H-135 helicopter will be in Windsor by 2027 and it will be up to WPS to determine how to use it.
CBC
27-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Province says it will fund training and maintenance for Windsor police helicopter
Social Sharing The province has disclosed some more details about a helicopter the government is buying for Windsor police amid questions from city officials about the aircraft's cost to local taxpayers and stated border security mandate. On May 15, Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government unveiled its 2025 budget, which includes $57 million to purchase two new Airbus H-135 helicopters — one for Niagara regional police, and one for Windsor police. The aircraft are meant to help municipal law enforcement "with increased patrols, security, and enforcement at key entry points at the U.S. border," according to the budget. On Monday, the province told CBC Windsor that it will be covering some of the costs associated with the new equipment. "Our government is ensuring police services have the tools they need to protect our borders and keep our communities safe — This includes supporting the Windsor Police Service with a new H-135 helicopter," wrote Dakota Moniz, director of communications for Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. "In addition to the new helicopter, we will provide funding to the police service to hire and train tactical flight officers, and support the Ontario Provincial Police, who will provide maintenance for the helicopter upon its arrival in 2027," Moniz stated. As of Monday evening, Moniz had not responded to follow-up questions regarding how much the province would be providing, and whether those amounts are included in the original $57-million investment. Windsor city councillor Jo-Anne Gignac, who chairs the Windsor Police Services Board, has expressed concerns about the costs associated with operating and maintaining a helicopter. "I think for the people of Windsor to have to assume the cost of operating a helicopter is naturally concerning," Gignac told CBC after the announcement. Ontario budget promises new police helicopter and more skilled tradespeople for Windsor-Essex 10 days ago Duration 2:28 A new helicopter for Windsor police and almost a billion dollars in funding for worker skills development are among the aspects of the latest Ontario budget that will have a direct impact on our region. CBC's Dalson Chen spoke with Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac of the police board and John D'Agnolo of Unifor Local 200 for their reactions. After a meeting of the Windsor Police Services Board last week, Gignac said the city was still awaiting details from the province about the helicopter. "We still don't have the information that we need to be able to sign an agreement in terms of that tool," Gignac said. "And it is a tool. It's a tool that I appreciate the premier has thought that it might be a positive thing." There have also been questions about whether it's the role of a municipal police service to patrol the international border — which is normally a federal responsibility. "It's just getting to the point where downloading of different responsibilities that were never part of our municipal responsibilities are coming left and right," Gignac said. "And so we have to be very careful." Both the Canadian and Ontario governments have implemented new border security measures in response to criticisms from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has claimed that fentanyl smuggling from Canada justifies imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods — despite data showing that the vast majority of fentanyl enters the U.S. from Mexico. In an effort to appease Trump, Ottawa announced in December that it would spend $1.3 billion on beefing up border security — which includes having the RCMP patrol the border with leased Black Hawk helicopters. The Windsor detachment of the RCMP declined an interview request on Monday and did not respond to questions about coordinating with the coming Windsor police helicopter patrol. There's some precedent for the province's new police helicopters. Ford's government previously said it was spending $134 million on five helicopters for police in Ottawa and the Toronto area. The latest announcement "builds on" that investment, the budget says, adding that the new aircraft "will help protect Ontario's borders and keep highways and roadways safe from violent carjackings, auto theft, street racing, and impaired driving."
Global News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Ford government defends powers to arm special constables: ‘We ran on Protect Ontario'
The Ford government is defending its move to give the solicitor general the power to arm as-yet unidentified groups of special constables — and says it delivers on its election promise to 'protect Ontario.' Last week, Global News reported how the government had quietly included a clause in its latest omnibus justice legislation that would allow it to expand the number of special constables who can carry firearms. Special constables operate similarly to police, but they are not police officers. Currently, only Niagara Parks Commission special constables and those who work for police forces in other jurisdictions are allowed to use guns. Other special constables — who work in campus security, on transit, at community housing and with existing police services — carry batons and pepper spray. Solicitor General Michael Kerzner defended the move on Monday, promising consultations would come after the legislation is passed and before he passes regulations to expand the weapons some special constables carry. Story continues below advertisement 'Public safety matters a lot to this government,' he said. 'When we ran on 'Protect Ontario,' we ran specifically to make sure that everyone in Ontario is safe.' The premier's office stressed Monday that the focus of the new power was to make changes to Niagara Parks Commission special constables, including giving them more powerful weapons. They would not rule out whether other special constables would follow. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy A spokesperson for the premier's office told Global News an example of the changes that could come in might be to allow Niagara Parks special constables to 'carry long guns' for an 'active attacker scenario.' They said the government's 'focus right now is the Niagara Parks constables,' but did not say if other groups would follow. Kerzner said he would 'not necessarily at all' apply the weapons changes to campus police or transit enforcement and said he would 'continue to meet with stakeholders.' He repeatedly did not answer questions about what other special constables could get firearms. 'I want to point to Niagara Regional Parks police, that is something that goes back a long time, they're an exception to the rule,' he said. 'And we want to make sure that those great officers who are part of that police service have the capability that is commensurate to other police services across Ontario.' Story continues below advertisement The Niagara Parks Police Service is a special constabulary, which means its officers only have authority on land owned by the Niagara Parks Commission. Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said she wanted the government to explain what it was trying to achieve with the new powers. 'I really want to understand what the intention is here. I think the government should be clear with people with what they're going to use this legislation for,' she said. 'This is classic of the behaviour of this government. They ram stuff through like this that gives all kinds of new potential power and don't really explain what they're trying to accomplish with this.' If Bill 10, the government's latest justice legislation passes, then the solicitor general will have the power to decide which new groups of special constables can carry firearms. That decision, over which groups get guns, will be made and publicized through a regulation, which is not voted on by MPPs. 'Any regulation would undergo a public feedback process, as they all do, and require significant consultation,' the premier's office said. The president of the Ontario Special Constables Association said in a social media post that she was supportive of the move. Story continues below advertisement 'The (Ontario Special Constables Association) has long advocated for better use of force options for #specialconstables and we support Premier (Doug Ford) and Solicitor General (Michael Kerzner),' Sarah Kennedy wrote on social media. '#SpecialConstables are important #partnersinpublicsafety and contribute to safety and wellbeing in different spaces. Equipping Specials with appropriate and necessary tools will have a positive impact on officer and public safety.'
Global News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Ford government considers arming more special constables but won't say who will get guns
Should Ontario's transit enforcement officers or campus security guards be allowed to carry guns? That's a question raised by a change the Ford government quietly included in its latest proposed piece of omnibus justice legislation. Buried in the middle of the Protect Ontario Through Safer Streets and Stronger Communities Act is a change that would allow Solicitor General Michael Kerzner to select groups of special constables who would be allowed to use firearms. Special constables are a police-adjacent category of officials who work in areas like campus security or transit enforcement. The vast majority carry pepper spray and batons but cannot use firearms. That could change if the omnibus bill, which is still being debated at Queen's Park, is passed into law. 'If passed, Bill 10 would allow the Solicitor General, through regulations, to permit groups of special constables to carry and use firearms,' a spokesperson for Kerzner's office told Global News. Story continues below advertisement Currently, in Ontario, only special constables who work for the Niagara Parks Commission or for an existing police force in another jurisdiction can carry guns. Other special constables do not. 'All special constables must meet mandatory training standards and adhere to a provincial code of conduct,' the spokesperson continued. The solicitor general's office did not say which special constables it was considering allowing to carry firearms, nor did it say why it was making the move now. Ken Price, a member of Danforth Families for Safe Communities, which advocates for gun control and reform, said the move was curious — and questioned why the government was considering expanding the number of officials who can carry firearms. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Certainly, we would never begrudge — as Danforth families, any of us — would begrudge the police the kinds of resources they need to do their jobs, that's not what this is about,' he said. 'But I think when you're in the area of what special constables (do) and, most of them, it appears today, don't need weapons to carry out their jobs, so what's changed? Why does this need to be an element? When more guns in our minds is not a good idea.' Danforth Families for Safe Communities was formed in the wake of the 2018 mass shooting on Danforth Avenue in Toronto, which killed two and left 13 injured. Story continues below advertisement The proposed change has been rolled out quietly by the province. It wasn't announced at a news conference, nor was it included in a detailed background briefing released when the legislation was tabled. Sarah Strban, a criminal defence lawyer who read the proposed legislation, said how the move would be received depended entirely on who the solicitor general gave guns to. 'The important thing to remember is that a special constable is a very tightly-controlled category of law enforcement, and it applies to a really wide range of conduct,' she said. Strban suggested it would be 'quite reasonable' for special constables working with police forces to carry firearms. 'They're involved in investigations and maybe helping with things like arrest and detention, interviewing subjects, executing searches,' she explained. 'On the other hand, you get special constables that are dealing with more community work roles, so special constables work in university settings, in transit, in community housing — sometimes with very vulnerable populations. And there I do have some concern where you're adding more firearms to those situations.' The special constables who receive firearms will be decided through regulations issued by the solicitor general if the proposed law passes and won't be debated by the legislature. Ontario Liberal MPP Karen McCrimmon said, given the potentially seismic change, there should be deliberate consultations. Story continues below advertisement 'Carrying a firearm comes with the authority to use it, and we need to keep that threshold high,' she said in a statement. 'The rigorous training our officers receive keeps both us and them safe. Communities deserve a chance to consult on lowering these standards and taking on more risk.' The solicitor general's office said it 'worked closely with policing and community safety partners to put forward the proposed changes' in the legislation. McCrimmon suggested it was a dangerous, short-term measure. 'We need investment in a funded and experienced police sector, not a band-aid solution,' she said. 'Arming special constables with less training than police officers is not a proper solution. This government needs to ensure that anyone authorized to carry a gun is properly trained, which minimizes risk to the public and law enforcement.'
