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For Immediate Release
May 31, 2007

Backgrounder

Ontario's Support for First Nations Policing

First Nations Policing in Ontario

In Ontario, First Nations policing is provided under the Ontario First Nations Policing Agreement, in line with the federal government’s First Nations Policing Policy. Under this agreement:

20 First Nations communities are served directly by either the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) or a municipal police service
19 First Nations communities are served by First Nations police officers who are administered by the OPP
95 First Nations communities are served by nine self–administered First Nations police services.

Aboriginal Communities – A New Approach

In June 2005, the Ontario government announced a new approach to aboriginal affairs based on a constructive, co-operative relationship with the Aboriginal Peoples of Ontario. As part of the new approach, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and the OPP are working to develop new initiatives and to sustain existing programs that recognize and address the diverse policing needs of both urban and rural Aboriginal communities.

Supporting First Nations Police Services

In 2007-08, Ontario will contribute $23.7 million to self-administered First Nations police services. The province will also contribute approximately $3.6 million for OPP-administered First Nations police services.
Since 2003, the ministry has invested $2.3 million to improve police infrastructure in the communities of the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation.
Since 2003, $1.3 million in funding has been provided under the Community Policing Partnerships program for 14 police officers hired by First Nations police services.
First Nations police services have also hired an additional nine officers with $211,000 in funding under the government’s Safer Communities - 1,000 Officers Partnership program.<
Since 2003, First Nations police services have received approximately $131,000 to provide Reduced Impaired Driving Everywhere programs.
Since 2004, First Nations police services have received approximately $138,000 through the Safer and Vital Communities Grant to support crime prevention programs.
Since June 2005, the Ontario Police College has provided funding to train 88 First Nations police service recruits.

OPP-Aboriginal Policing Initiatives

The OPP is committed to building and maintaining strong relationships with Aboriginal leaders and communities.

Established in 2004, the OPP’s Aboriginal Relations Teams help the OPP communicate clearly when responding to serious incidents and disputes involving Aboriginal communities.

The OPP is working hard to develop relationships with Aboriginal communities and to establish initiatives that will allow the OPP the opportunity to have constructive dialogue with all parties in a dispute by:

Establishing a new procedure for responding to critical incidents involving Aboriginal communities that encourages officers to consider a broad range of responses to critical incidents, taking into account local issues and protecting the rights of all involved parties throughout the incident
Collaborating with the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service on a joint recruitment initiative that resulted in the selection of 30 Aboriginal recruits to support First Nations policing and increase the number of Aboriginal recruits
Hosting OPP Bound, an annual, one-week recruitment camp that allows potential recruits from Aboriginal and other under-represented communities to explore a career with the OPP. In 2005, the program attracted 95 participants, including 30 members of the Aboriginal community.
Conducting an award-winning Native Awareness course, based on strong community consultation that brings together police officers and front-line providers of service from a variety of agencies in holistic approaches to developing positive community relations. The week-long course is now mandatory for all Incident Commanders, Emergency Response Teams, Tactics and Rescue Units, Professional Standards Bureau, and in-service training personnel.

Consulting Aboriginal Communities to Improve Police-Community Relations

The OPP meets regularly with leaders of Aboriginal communities to share information, build relationships and examine ways the OPP can help support and facilitate better policing to First Nations communities. In November 2006, Commissioner Julian Fantino met with the Chiefs of Ontario and all 134 First Nations Chiefs in Sault Ste. Marie to discuss how the OPP can continue to support and facilitate better policing to their communities.
In 2006, senior ministry staff took part in the Law Enforcement Aboriginal and Diversity Network conference, which was co-chaired by former OPP Commissioner, Gwen Boniface. More than 500 community members and police service employees met in Toronto to discuss cooperative solutions to challenges facing communities and police. Leaders from Aboriginal and racialized communities and law enforcement agencies addressed the gathering to discuss critical issues from poverty and racial discrimination as factors in crime to racial profiling and oppressive behaviours towards minorities.
In 2005 a Federal/Provincial/Territorial Policing Issues Working Group, composed of senior representatives from the various levels of government, was established to address policing issues across Canada. Ontario is leading the discussions on the issue of relationships between First Nations police services and other police services.

Stuart McGetrick
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
416-325-9686