New OPP advisory boards could change how policing is done in Muskoka.
During the Township of Muskoka Lakes council meeting on Wednesday, Chief Administrative Officer for the District of Muskoka, Julie Stevens, talked to council about what these new committees are and why they are important to the community.
According to the presentation, the creation of these boards is a result of the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 implemented by the Ontario government. In the act, each OPP detachment must have a board made up of members of the local community, to allow greater civilian governance.
CAO Stevens said the boards would produce greater accountability and oversight with the goal of receiving feedback from residents about local policing.
“Are [the OPP]doing the things we want them to? I think that’s exactly what this board is going to help us define, because it’s about getting the local priorities,” Stevens said. “I really do actually think this board is going to help with that education process and the transparency of what the police are working on.”
There are two OPP detachments in Muskoka, which means there will be two new boards. Muskoka Lakes is serviced through the Bracebridge detachment.
These boards will be involved in determining the detachment’s objectives and priorities, reviewing police reports and overseeing the execution of the municipal and First Nations well-being plans.
All final decisions would continue to be made by the OPP detachment and OPP commissioner.
While the boards will be created without any say from council, the amount of board members will still need to be decided with a choice between two options.
In the presentation, an eight or 15-member board was proposed.
Most Muskoka Lakes councillors appeared to be supportive of the 15-member option.
“I think you would get better information from different perspectives,” said Councillor Donelda Hayes.
The amount of members will be decided at a later date.
With only three advisory boards and multiple towns and townships in Muskoka with different needs, Councillor Frank Jaglowitz questioned how effective the boards will be while working with the police to make sure all local needs are met when these needs vary from one town or township to another. Afterwards, he stated his hope for the new board.
“The District has taken a hands off approach to policing. It essentially accepts the minimum standard. I see this [board]as some hope to change that,” he said. He then proposed that “maybe this should be more of a local thing as the District should be a coordinator rather than a leader.”
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