In December 2023, the Province of Ontario announced sweeping changes to the law governing policing in Ontario with Bill 68, Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 (CSPA) that included 30 proposed regulations that apply and extend to municipal police service.
The new Bill came into effect on April 1, 2024, replacing the old Police Services Act (1990) and focusses on addressing community safety, enhancing police oversight, modernizing policing, and establishing consistent mandated training requirements.
“The Cornwall Police Service has undertaken the process of meeting the requirements of the new CSPA,” said Inspector David Michaud. “The new legislation and regulations will support a modernized and sustainable framework for policing in Ontario and the CPS is committed to providing public safety excellence to ensure the safety of the citizens of the City of Cornwall.”
KEY CHANGES
• The public complaints process;
• The new role of the Inspector General of Policing;
• The definition of Adequate and Effective Policing
• Codes of Conduct for Sworn Officers and Special Constables.
• Complaints against Special Constables
COMPLAINTS PROCESS
The Law Enforcement Complaints Agency (LECA), formally known as the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD), takes effect as an important change to the public complaints process. LECA will retain authority over all public complaints about the conduct of police officers and issues of a systemic nature and will have the power to investigate, even absent a public complaint if it is in the public interest to do so.
The CPS has been working to ensure its policies and practices are in compliance with the CSPA and understands the new Act and Regulations’ impact on our Service’s operations, policies and procedures.
You can view the new CSPA on the Government of Ontario’s website or visit the CPS website for more information on Complaints.
