Gun violence and the need for a gun ban are issues that I have blogged about on numerous occasions. They are issues that I believe are of the utmost importance for all residents of Toronto.
I am very pleased to see that volume on these issues is increasing:
*Members of the Toronto Community Housing’s communities committee yesterday took steps to start to curb gun violence. You can read the Toronto Sun story here.
*The Toronto Sun story is also reporting that 60,000 people have signed Mayor Miller's online petition.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
TODAY'S GLOBE AND MAIL
Today's Globe and Mail had two very insightful articles on the Toronto Police Service. You can read them here and here.
Friday, July 25, 2008
COMBATTING RACISM ON THE WORLD STAGE
Earlier this summer I had the privilege of representing the Canadian Coalition of Cities against Racism and Discrimination at UNESCO’s 3rd World Forum on Human Rights in Nantes (France). It was here that UNESCO launched an international coalition of cities against racism, discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance. I was honoured to join the other regional representatives, and Pierre Sané, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, on the podium to sign the “Nantes Declaration” marking the launch of this international coalition.
The details of this historic event and speaking notes and biographies of my counterparts can be found here .
At the forum, I had the opportunity to address the international delegates and provide both a briefing on the governance of policing in Canada and background on the measures that we have in place and are working on to combat racism in Toronto.
Here is a summary of my remarks:
“We are part of a network that is cooperating with the Canadian Coalition of Cities against Racism and Discrimination. Under the law, in virtually every province of Canada, the municipal police has a civilian oversight body such as a police services board or a commission that is independent of the municipal government. These boards or commissions are composed of local elected representatives and people from civil society. They are in charge of ensuring that the local police act in line with the laws and the public interest. The police service can lose public confidence and trust if, as an organization, it lacks systemic affirmative and proactive measures to ensure anti-racism, inclusivity and equity in its treatment of people from different backgrounds. For example, young people from the black communities have expressed a lack of confidence in the police and Aboriginal communities have felt that local police did not sufficiently take into account their cultural realities. This has caused several sad incidents. We have two reasons to believe that in Toronto our action against racism and for the promotion of ethnocultural equality is now bearing fruits. The composition of police has changed significantly in the last 3 years. First, we are working to ensure that our police service reflects the diversity of the population. People from all communities, including “racialized” groups as well as women, are represented at all levels of the hierarchy. As a result, in different communities, we have perceived a growing confidence in the police. We believe that part of the role of local police is to contribute to a better quality of life for all people. That is why we carry out activities to promote social justice and to strengthen law enforcement and crime prevention. We believe that these efforts complement the efforts of Municipalities and can reinforce the capacity of the Coalition to meet its objectives.”
The details of this historic event and speaking notes and biographies of my counterparts can be found here .
At the forum, I had the opportunity to address the international delegates and provide both a briefing on the governance of policing in Canada and background on the measures that we have in place and are working on to combat racism in Toronto.
Here is a summary of my remarks:
“We are part of a network that is cooperating with the Canadian Coalition of Cities against Racism and Discrimination. Under the law, in virtually every province of Canada, the municipal police has a civilian oversight body such as a police services board or a commission that is independent of the municipal government. These boards or commissions are composed of local elected representatives and people from civil society. They are in charge of ensuring that the local police act in line with the laws and the public interest. The police service can lose public confidence and trust if, as an organization, it lacks systemic affirmative and proactive measures to ensure anti-racism, inclusivity and equity in its treatment of people from different backgrounds. For example, young people from the black communities have expressed a lack of confidence in the police and Aboriginal communities have felt that local police did not sufficiently take into account their cultural realities. This has caused several sad incidents. We have two reasons to believe that in Toronto our action against racism and for the promotion of ethnocultural equality is now bearing fruits. The composition of police has changed significantly in the last 3 years. First, we are working to ensure that our police service reflects the diversity of the population. People from all communities, including “racialized” groups as well as women, are represented at all levels of the hierarchy. As a result, in different communities, we have perceived a growing confidence in the police. We believe that part of the role of local police is to contribute to a better quality of life for all people. That is why we carry out activities to promote social justice and to strengthen law enforcement and crime prevention. We believe that these efforts complement the efforts of Municipalities and can reinforce the capacity of the Coalition to meet its objectives.”
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
YESTERDAY'S OP ED
I have received feedback, from different audiences, on my op ed in yesterday's Toronto Star.
Could it be that the much needed public policy dicussion on the suspension of police officers with pay has started?
Could it be that the much needed public policy dicussion on the suspension of police officers with pay has started?
Monday, July 21, 2008
PRESSING NEED FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION
My op ed on the suspension of police officers with pay appeared in today's Toronto Star.
There is a pressing need for public discussion on this significant public policy issue. It is my hope that through the op ed and my previous blogs we will be able to engage both the public and the legislators in a fruitful discussion that ultimately leads to much needed amendments to the Police Services Act.
There is a pressing need for public discussion on this significant public policy issue. It is my hope that through the op ed and my previous blogs we will be able to engage both the public and the legislators in a fruitful discussion that ultimately leads to much needed amendments to the Police Services Act.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Much Needed Amendments to the Police Services Act
You may have read today’s editorial in the Toronto Star regarding the issue of suspension with pay for police officers. I blogged about this in February and was pleased to see this issue finally starting to get the mainstream attention that it so rightly deserves.
Let me explain.
Under the Police Services Act, a police officer cannot be suspended without pay unless s/he is convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
I understand the philosophical reason that the Act is so restrictive. I do not, however, understand why this provision needs to be so broad in scope that an officer cannot be suspended without pay even when charged with the most serious acts and why the protection applies even when the officer's action occurred off the job.
For police services boards, who are responsible for policy regarding policing, including that related to the employment of police officers and who have responsibility to seek legislative changes to the Police Services Act, this is a very serious issue.
Last year, the Toronto Police Services Board yet again wrote to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services recommending that subsection 67(1) of the Act be amended to allow police officers to be suspended without pay in certain limited circumstances. The issue has been raised with all political parties in the last two years, during hearings by the Ontario Legislature's Standing Committee on Justice Policy related to amendments to the Act.
The Ontario Association of Police Service Boards and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police also want these necessary amendments to the Act to reflect today's societal expectations of police conduct.
The only groups that vehemently support the continuation of suspension with pay under all circumstances are the Toronto Police Association and the Police Association of Ontario.
It is time that the Police Services Act is amended to allow for suspension without pay in certain circumstances. Perhaps increased public attention and the resulting pressure on legislators will be what it takes to finally get the required amendments.
Let me explain.
Under the Police Services Act, a police officer cannot be suspended without pay unless s/he is convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
I understand the philosophical reason that the Act is so restrictive. I do not, however, understand why this provision needs to be so broad in scope that an officer cannot be suspended without pay even when charged with the most serious acts and why the protection applies even when the officer's action occurred off the job.
For police services boards, who are responsible for policy regarding policing, including that related to the employment of police officers and who have responsibility to seek legislative changes to the Police Services Act, this is a very serious issue.
Last year, the Toronto Police Services Board yet again wrote to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services recommending that subsection 67(1) of the Act be amended to allow police officers to be suspended without pay in certain limited circumstances. The issue has been raised with all political parties in the last two years, during hearings by the Ontario Legislature's Standing Committee on Justice Policy related to amendments to the Act.
The Ontario Association of Police Service Boards and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police also want these necessary amendments to the Act to reflect today's societal expectations of police conduct.
The only groups that vehemently support the continuation of suspension with pay under all circumstances are the Toronto Police Association and the Police Association of Ontario.
It is time that the Police Services Act is amended to allow for suspension without pay in certain circumstances. Perhaps increased public attention and the resulting pressure on legislators will be what it takes to finally get the required amendments.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
CONGRATULATIONS to the women of the Toronto Police Service who are helping build Habitat for Humanity houses for deserving Toronto families.
Members of the Toronto Police Service donate thousands of volunteer hours to various worthy causes. The Habitat for Humanity project is one of the finest examples of the ways in which our members - in this case, women -are making a tremendous contribution to improving the quality of life in our community.
Here is their story and a story that appeared in the Toronto Sun last month.
Female cops unite for Humanity
By Sharon Lem , SUN MEDIA
Move over Mike Holmes.
More than 350 women from Toronto Police Services are going to don hard hats and flex their muscles to build a Habitat for Humanity home in Scarborough.
So far, female police officers and civilian police personnel have raised more than $100,000 toward the $1.2-million project building 10 houses in the Lawrence Ave. E.-Manse Rd. area this fall.
"I've been with the Toronto Police for over 20 years and we've done a lot of fundraising before, but what makes this really special is I've never seen a movement by women of Toronto Police," Det.-Sgt. Kim Scanlan, of the Sex Crimes Unit, said.
Scanlan said the women rallied together because they all see the value of giving deserving families a roof over their heads and a safe and decent place to live.
"Women at Toronto Police have been the driving force to planning all of these fund-raising events. Since April we've had over 10 different events including bake sales and car washes," Scanlan said.
Yesterday, Scanlan helped to organize a wine and cheese party, art sale and a silent auction.
The non-profit Habitat for Humanity movement began in 1976 and expanded to Canada in 1985. It follows a basic concept that people in need of adequate shelter work side by side with volunteers to build simple houses.
For information on Habitat for Humanity, call 416-755-7353.
Members of the Toronto Police Service donate thousands of volunteer hours to various worthy causes. The Habitat for Humanity project is one of the finest examples of the ways in which our members - in this case, women -are making a tremendous contribution to improving the quality of life in our community.
Here is their story and a story that appeared in the Toronto Sun last month.
Female cops unite for Humanity
By Sharon Lem , SUN MEDIA
Move over Mike Holmes.
More than 350 women from Toronto Police Services are going to don hard hats and flex their muscles to build a Habitat for Humanity home in Scarborough.
So far, female police officers and civilian police personnel have raised more than $100,000 toward the $1.2-million project building 10 houses in the Lawrence Ave. E.-Manse Rd. area this fall.
"I've been with the Toronto Police for over 20 years and we've done a lot of fundraising before, but what makes this really special is I've never seen a movement by women of Toronto Police," Det.-Sgt. Kim Scanlan, of the Sex Crimes Unit, said.
Scanlan said the women rallied together because they all see the value of giving deserving families a roof over their heads and a safe and decent place to live.
"Women at Toronto Police have been the driving force to planning all of these fund-raising events. Since April we've had over 10 different events including bake sales and car washes," Scanlan said.
Yesterday, Scanlan helped to organize a wine and cheese party, art sale and a silent auction.
The non-profit Habitat for Humanity movement began in 1976 and expanded to Canada in 1985. It follows a basic concept that people in need of adequate shelter work side by side with volunteers to build simple houses.
For information on Habitat for Humanity, call 416-755-7353.
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