Press Release

Ontario Civilian Police Commission’s Investigation into Thunder Bay Police Services Board: Amended Final Report Release Date

(Disponible en français)

December 20, 2017

Amended: Final Report Release Date

The Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) has approved a request from Lead Investigator, the Honourable Murray Sinclair, for an extension to the release of the final report. While the final report was to be received by the Commission on March 31, 2018, the revised date of receipt will now be August 31, 2018. The Commission will then make the report publicly available on its website.

Reasons for Extension

The amended release date for the final report will allow for the following:

• Consideration of the findings from the systemic review of the Thunder Bay Police Service, currently being conducted by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD).
• Consideration of legislative and/or regulatory changes around police oversight, as a result of the Government’s introduction of Bill 175 (Safer Ontario Act, 2017).

Quick Facts

• The OCPC launched anb investigation into the Thunder Bay Police Services board due to serious concerns about the state of civilian police oversight and public confidence in the delivery of police services in Thunder Bay. For more information on the investigation, please see OCPC’s press release of July 24, 2017
• On November 3^rd, the OCPC publicly released an interim report to the investigation. The interim report can be accessed here.
• The OCPC investigation is not punitive and not directed to any specific conduct issues. Ultimately, there is a public interest in ensuring that the Board is meeting its obligations.

Background Information

• The OCPC is an independent, quasi-judicial agency. It is one of five tribunals in the Safety, Licensing Appeals and Standards Tribunals Ontario cluster.
• The OCPC has a broad mandate, including ensuring that police service boards are providing sufficient oversight of police services in a manner that ensures adequate and effective police services in the community and that maintains public confidence in the delivery of policing.
• The OIPRD is an independent, arms-length agency that works to identify and offer solutions to systemic or ongoing issues within police services and is responsible for performing audits to ensure the complaints system is being administered effectively. It is also responsible for administering public complaints about police in Ontario.

Additional Resources

• Safety, Licensing Appeals and Standards Tribunals Ontario
• Office of the Independent Police Review Director
• Press Release: OCPC Appoints Investigator (July 24, 2017)
• Press Release: OCPC’s Investigation into TPSB: Interim Report (November 1, 2017)
• Interim Report of the Honourable Murray Sinclair submitted to the Executive Chair, Ontario Civilian Police Commission
• Bill 175, Safer Ontario Act, 2017
• OIPRD Systemic Review of the Thunder Bay Police Services’ Practices

Media Contact

Silvia Cheng
SLASTOinfo@ontario.ca

416-212-5768