BOARD NAMES REVIEWER

Earlier today, the Toronto Police Services Board approved the retention of The Honourable John W. Morden to conduct the Independent Civilian Review of the policing of the G20 Summit. You can read our news release here.

Mr. Morden has vast experience in matters of public law and civil rights. He also spent considerable time on the bench, including as Associate Chief Justice of Ontario.

In addition, Ryan Teschner will act as Review Counsel. All media and public inquiries on the Independent Civilian Review should now be directed to him.

Further information is available on the Independent Civilian Review's website http://www.g20review.ca/

LONG-GUN REGISTRY

This evening, a majority of the Members of the House of Commons voted to maintain the long-gun registry. You can read the stories here, here and here.

This is great news.

Never before have police boards, police chiefs and police associations come together in such a concerted manner. This cohesiveness has been critical during the drive to educate voters and parliamentarians on why the long-gun registry must be maintained.

To the parliamentarians who voted to maintain the registry, I say thank you.

Thank you for recognizing that the long-gun registry is an important tool in keeping police officers safe.

Thank you for recognizing that the long-gun registry helps keep our communities safe.

Thank you for maintaining this important tool in crime prevention and investigation.

And to Chief Bill Blair, President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and his team -- thank you for being the leaders and the public face of this very important fight.

UNPRECEDENTED MEDIA COVERAGE ON CRITICAL ISSUE

As I read the papers this morning, I was taken by what is a seemingly unprecedented level of media coverage on an issue that has police boards, police services and police associations working together for a common goal.

That is, of course, to save the long-gun registry; a critically important tool in both the prevention and investigation of crime.

I found this letter from the Halifax Chronicle Herald to be a very good summary of this critical issue.

You can read what I have written on this issue here.

NATIONAL DAY IN SUPPORT OF THE LONG-GUN REGISTRY

It is on a very rare and important occasion that the Board, the Service and the Association issue a joint statement.

The National Day in Support of the Gun Registry is one of those occasions.

As I have said previously maintaining the long-gun registry is critical to the safety of our officers and our communities.

Why, I ask, would anyone be interested in disabling such an effective preventative and investigative tool?

The Canadian Association of Police Board's National Day in Support of the Gun Registry, a first of its kind, serves to reinforce the important message that the long-gun registry must be maintained.

Police Boards across the country have a mandate to ensure prevention and enforcement. The long-gun registry is critical for both. That is why we are actively working to maintain it.

For Toronto specifically, it is particularly important as we work daily to help reduce crime in our community.

Here is the statement:

National Day In Support of the Long-Gun Registry
Joint statement from the Toronto Police Services Board, the Toronto Police Service and the Toronto Police Association

The Toronto Police Services Board, the Toronto Police Service and the Toronto Police Association join today to emphasize their support for the long-gun registry, an indispensable tool for the safety of police officers and communities across Canada.

A national firearms registry is a vitally important tool that helps police prevent and investigate crimes, trace firearms and promote individual accountability.

Toronto Police Services Board Chair Alok Mukherjee said, "Across Canada, police boards, police officers and police leaders are working to prevent violent incidents related to firearms. A key tool in this prevention strategy is the federal long-gun registry which provides police with the critical information required to help them do their jobs. Without it, the safety of the officers and the community is put at risk.”

Toronto Police Service Chief William Blair said, “Police all across Canada, in large cities and small towns, from chiefs to frontline officers, understand how the long-gun registry protects police officers and makes communities safer. It is very encouraging to see that, as we explain to Canadians the real value of the registry, more and more people understand its importance to all Canadians.”

Toronto Police Association President Mike McCormack said, "Every day, police officers across the country are exposed to potentially violent situations related to firearms. We owe it to our officers and our communities to ensure that every tool at our disposal is being used to prevent violent incidents. The federal long-gun registry is one of these and that is why it is critical that it is maintained.”

The release of the RCMP’s evaluation of the Firearms Program has provided up-to-date, accurate, comprehensive information, allowing Canadians to judge for themselves, on an informed basis.

It says, “Firearms registration is a critical component of the entire firearms program. The program, as a whole, is an important tool for law enforcement. Overall, the Canadian Firearms Program is cost-effective in reducing firearms-related crime and promoting public safety through universal licensing of firearms owners and registration of firearms in Canada.”

TERMS OF REFERENCE

On Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 at 4:00PM, the Board will be holding a special meeting to consider the Terms of Reference for our Independent Civilian Review of the Policing of the G20 Summit.

These Terms of Reference were drafted by Doug Hunt, who employed an inclusive, consultative process, incorporating the input from the community as well as key stakeholders and will be used by the Independent Civilian Reviewer who will be appointed in short order.

You can read the agenda and the draft Terms of Reference here.

NATIONAL DAY IN SUPPORT OF THE LONG GUN REGISTRY

Over the last two weeks, there has been extensive coverage on a topic of the utmost importance to the Toronto Police Services Board, and the vast majority of organizations related to policing in Canada, including the Canadian Association of Police Boards (CAPB), the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and the Canadian Police Association.

This issue, of course, is the long gun registry and the critical role that it plays in controlling gun violence in Canada.

At the beginning of the Board meeting last week, on August 26, the Board commended Chief Bill Blair on the admirable job he has done, in his capacity as president of the CACP in bringing a very high public profile to this issue at the CACP convention in August.

You can also watch Mike McCormack, President of the Toronto Police Association, emphasize the value of the registry on an Alberta current affairs show.

In addition, at last week's meeting, the Board approved a motion to reinforce our support for the long gun registry by endorsing the call by the CAPB to observe September 15 as the National Day in Support of the Long Gun Registry. I am gratified that Toronto City Council has followed suit and voted overwhelmingly to support the long gun registry and the National Day on September 15. You can read the Council’s motion here and some subsequent media coverage here.

Our Board has no intention of giving up our fight to maintain the long gun registry. On September 15, 2010, we will join with the CAPB in recognizing the National Day in Support of the Long Gun Registry.

We will continue to reinforce the message that the federal government must not lose sight of the significant benefits of the registry.

It is a matter of great priority for community safety.