Conclusion

Over the course of recent years, Ontario experienced a surge in protests, demonstrations, and civil disobedience to express dissatisfaction with government policy, local matters, and world events. As displayed in 2022, with the vaccine anti-mandate protests and blockades, these events can become complex and span multiple jurisdictions across the province. The ability for police to maintain their preparedness to effectively manage these events in a lawful, peaceful, and safe manner is crucial. 

Overall, Ontario’s police services continue to adapt to address public order situations. Collaboration among POUs in Ontario, facilitated through the Ontario Public Order Hub model, is one such example. Formalizing, clarifying the mandate, and strengthening the governance of the Ontario Public Order Hub model will better support the coordination and mobilization of resources across Ontario jurisdictions and stands out as an approach that should continue to be strengthened. This Spotlight Report includes the IG’s recommendations for several enhancements to Ontario’s Public Order policing system that will serve the broader provincial interest.

Also, it is encouraging that boards and police services demonstrate a high degree of compliance with the inspected sections of the PSA and its regulations, up to the transition to the CSPA. The inspection did not reveal situations where current resources were unable to react within a reasonable amount of time. Although the factors to consider in defining what is a ‘reasonable time’ have evolved under the CSPA, this is an encouraging finding.

The CSPA and its regulatory requirements concerning public order maintenance now better position boards, police services and the IoP to assess the extent and manner to which policing services are meeting the needs of Ontario communities. This work appears to be underway, with services that have POUs actively reviewing their needs to increase complements to balance potential fatigue of current resources. At this time, it is recommended that all police services and boards expedite a review of their procedures and policies to ensure compliance with both CSPA and its regulations, all with a view to putting in place the necessary governance and operational direction to ensure the delivery of adequate and effective policing.

Beyond compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements, and as we have outlined in this report, there are several areas where boards and services must use data and trend analysis to ensure they are as prepared as possible to deliver adequate and effective policing locally. Whether a police service has its own POU, or relies on another service’s POU, the dynamic nature of public order maintenance requires advanced planning and the necessary mechanisms in place to meet what is clearly an increasing need for these resources. To this end, boards must also consider the specific financial needs associated with public order maintenance as part of their mandate to ensure adequate and effective policing is being delivered locally. 

Given the IG’s mandate to monitor the delivery of adequate and effective policing across the province, the IG and IoP will continue to pay attention to public order maintenance in Ontario.  Through its continued activities, the IoP is committed to equipping police services and boards with evidence-based research and data to support their efforts in providing the best possible policing services to their communities.

The IoP looks forward to unlocking the improved performance that can come from the implementation of the specific recommendations made in this Spotlight Report.