On December 10, the Ontario government announced that the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service Board (NAPSB) will be the first-ever First Nations police service to come under the umbrella of the Community Safety and Policing Act, the province's policing legislation.
During a signing ceremony at Queen's Park, the province also announced a $514 million investment to support NAPSB as it opts-in to the provincial framework for policing. The funding will allow the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service to double the number of officers that serve 34 First Nation communities.
"This is a historic day for policing in the province of Ontario," said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. "We're proud to mark this momentous occasion alongside First Nations partners to help modernize and strengthen the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service to keep communities safe and protected."
This agreement will allow Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) to continue to provide culturally appropriate policing services, with the support of provincial legislation that will ensure adequate and effective policing service standards for remote and Northern communities.
By joining the provincial framework for policing, the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service is taking an important step forward in enhancing the safety and security of 34 of the most remote and Northern First Nations communities in Ontario," said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation. "Our government is committed to empowering NAPS with the necessary resources and training to strengthen their capacity, ensuring that First Nations communities continue to receive culturally relevant and effective policing services, now and into the future."
Following extensive partnership with the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) and NAPSB, the Solicitor General has approved the inaugural constitution of the NAPSB in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA) as well as entered into a $514 million funding agreement to support the NAPSB in ensuring that adequate, effective and responsive policing is provided in First Nations communities.
"Many people have worked for years to get where we are today. On behalf of Nishnawbe Aski Nation I acknowledge and thank them all," said Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. "It is vital that our dedicated officers have the supports they need to serve our members in a safe and culturally appropriate way. Thanks to the CSPA, the First Nations policed by NAPS will now have access to the same standards and guaranteed funding that the rest of Canada takes for granted. This is what our leaders have asked for, and what our communities deserve."
This historic signing will allow the NAPSB to be legislatively recognized as responsible for delivering equitable policing to the communities it serves and have access to resources to do so. As part of the agreement, NAPS and its board will work towards increasing its officer complement to over 500 officers and meeting the requirements of the CSPA over the next several years.
Quick Facts
- NAPS is the largest First Nations police service in Canada and serves 34 First Nation communities in the NAN Territory including 25 remote communities. It currently employs over 260 uniform officers, with plans to increase its total service size to over 500 officers.
- NAN is a political territorial organization representing 49 First Nation communities within northern Ontario and is spread across an area that equals two-thirds of the province from the Manitoba border up the James Bay Coast over to the Quebec border.
- The CSPA came into force on April 1, 2024. Through the CSPA and its regulations, the government has established a legislative framework that modernizes and improves Ontario's approach to policing and community safety that addresses changes to policing over the last 30 years, including improving oversight and accountability of the policing sector.
Quotes
"When I started working with First Nations communities in August 1984, I was heartened by the warm welcome I received, but disappointed by the lack of resources for their safety. Four decades later, and after a policing career which brought me to NAPS in 2013, I have seen a lot of change and have been impressed by what our officers have accomplished despite those resource challenges. Still, there remains much room for improvement. Thanks to the support of community leaders, the Ontario government, and our incredible officers and civilian staff, I am more optimistic than I have ever been. This new legislation represents a guarantee of safety backed by the rule of law, with more officers, better infrastructure, and better conditions all around. While we can't turn back the past, we certainly can shape the future."
- Terry Armstrong, Chief of Police, Nishnawbe Aski Police Service
"I want to acknowledge our community leaders, including Grand Chiefs past and present, for helping get us here today. I also think it is important to pause, and reflect, about people like Lena Anderson, Ricardo Wesley, Jamie Goodwin, and others who suffered the consequences of our many decades at NAPS without proper resources. The new legislation creates an opportunity to ensure those tragedies never happen again. It is also a promise to future generations across NAN, that they will live with the same safety guarantees as all Canadians. Our First Nations deserve no less."
- Frank McKay, Chair, Nishnawbe Aski Police Services Board
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