Latest news with #RenéeVaugeois
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A second Edmonton police commissioner has resigned after conflict-of-interest inquiry
Another Edmonton police commissioner has resigned following a third-party conflict-of-interest review. The Edmonton Police Commission (EPC) announced last Friday that Renée Vaugeois will be resigning effective immediately from her role as a commissioner, despite the commission voting in favour of keeping her on with rules in place to manage any conflicts of interest. 'While I appreciate and am grateful that the commission has welcomed me back to the table, it has become clear that my continued presence may inadvertently cause distraction and tension that could hinder the important work ahead,' Vaugeois said. 'I have made the difficult decision to step away in the interest of supporting the commission's ability to serve our community effectively and to ensure that focus remains where it belongs — on providing strong oversight and support to the Edmonton Police Service.' Vaugeois is the second commissioner to step down after Dan Jones resigned in mid-January. Former Edmonton Police Service chief Dale McFee and police leadership asked the province to launch an inquiry into the Edmonton city council's choice of commissioners earlier this year, due to unspecified 'public-facing activities.' Vaugeois is the executive director of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights. She is a member of the Coalition for Justice and Human Rights, the group that unsuccessfully sued the City of Edmonton over its removal of homeless encampments, alongside the Edmonton Police Service. 'The conflict of interest review was conducted in accordance with the board's guidelines, procedures, and policy, and the commission has fulfilled all its legal obligations and requirements throughout this process. We wish Renée all the best in her future endeavours,' police commission chairman Ben Henderson said. The commission said it will not be releasing any additional information due to privacy considerations and 'considers the matter closed.' — With files from Lauren Boothby ctran@ X:@kccindytran 'Dysfunctional': Alberta will launch inquiry into Edmonton city council's choice of police commissioners after letter from Chief McFee Edmonton police asked Alberta to intervene after city council appointed two commissioners. Documents show past criticism and allegations of 'bias' drove the request. Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for ournewsletters. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun
CBC
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Another Edmonton police commissioner resigns after conflict-of-interest probe
The Edmonton Police Commission announced that one of its commissioners resigned Friday afternoon, following an independent, third-party conflict-of-interest review requested by the Edmonton Police Service. After receiving the review's findings, the commission voted Thursday to have Renée Vaugeois return to the board, with rules in place to manage any conflicts of interest. "It has become clear that my continued presence may inadvertently cause distraction and tension that could hinder the important work ahead," said Vaugeois, who is also the executive director of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, in a public news release. "I have made the difficult decision to step away in the interest of supporting the commission's ability to serve our community effectively and to ensure that focus remains where it belongs: on providing strong oversight and support to the Edmonton Police Service." In a separate news release issued Friday, the commission said it can manage existing real, perceived or potential conflicts through its existing policy and procedures, as well as implementing more rules. On Jan. 16, the appointments of a new commission chair and vice-chair were overshadowed, as the Alberta government committed to an inquiry into the appointments of two new commission members — Vaugeois and Dan Jones, the NorQuest College justice studies chair. The Edmonton Police Service had sought provincial intervention in city council's appointments of Vaugeois and Jones to the commission, which oversees the service. An Edmonton Police Service lawyer said on Jan 30. that concerns about possible conflicts of interest drove the request. The commission said it will not be releasing further information, citing privacy. It considers the matter closed. "The conflict of interest review was conducted in accordance with the board's guidelines, procedures, and policy, and the commission has fulfilled all its legal obligations and requirements throughout this process," said commission chair Ben Henderson. Vaugeois declined an interview request, saying she would likely issue a statement next week on the matter. Jones resigned from the board on Jan. 16, after his appointment to the commission was announced on the same day. In December, Henderson replaced John McDougall as commission chair, after public controversy over McDougall's plan to serve on the oversight body until the end of 2026 while living in Portugal.
