Winnipeg mayor sounds alarm on potential Police Services Act changes

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This article was published 07/05/2021 (1968 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Potential changes to Manitoba’s Police Services Act could amount to “an attack on local democracy” and force Winnipeg to pay for a policing budget it can no longer control, Mayor Brian Bowman says.

A day later, a provincial minister deemed the comments “ridiculous,” stressing talks on possible changes are still underway and no decisions have been made.

Bowman told media he strongly opposes four of the 70 recommendations made in a recent independent review of the act.

“It is, effectively, a takeover of a local police service by the provincial government, if in fact, the province accepts the recommendations,” he said late Thursday afternoon.

“I’m raising this issue today because there is time for MLAs, including the government, to reject those recommendations that have been brought forward that would erode, and essentially be an attack, on local democracy.”

If the four changes are approved, the following would occur:

• an arbitrator (possibly the Manitoba Police Commission) would handle any Winnipeg Police Service budget disputes between city council and the Winnipeg Police Board;
• WPS would take over the board’s role to act as a community liaison; and
• police boards would become the employer of all local policing employees, including the chief, while also overseeing collective bargaining.

In addition, another recommendation calls to replace two municipal appointees to the board with provincial ones.

“These four recommendations would give unelected provincial appointees a controlling majority on the Winnipeg Police Board and make those appointees responsible for setting the police budget and negotiating the collective bargaining agreements… All of this, while placing the bill for provincial decisions with Winnipeg taxpayers,” said Bowman.

The mayor argued the budget moves could produce policing costs the city can’t afford.

“Right now, one-third of the tax-supported operating budget, roughly, is the police service. That number could go up significantly, if that would ultimately be the decision of the provincial representatives,” said Bowman.

The mayor also argued removing the board’s role to consult with the public would undermine calls for citizens to have more say in law enforcement.

Replacing two municipal members with provincial ones, on what’s currently a seven-member board, would bring the provincial total to a majority of four.

Coun. Markus Chambers, chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board, said a key concern is the two members who are removed would be those who also sit on city council. He noted the review states a municipal council’s role “should not extend to ‘co-governing’ the police service or overseeing the police board.”

“You have representation of close to 100,000 people, the two council members are elected to serve. That’s a huge, huge voice in the community,” Chambers said Friday.

“It is, effectively, a takeover of a local police service by the provincial government, if in fact, the province accepts the recommendations.” –Mayor Brian Bowman

“By removing that, and having non-elected members sit in service on that board, 100,000 people are not being heard as effectively.”

The city’s website notes the Winnipeg Police Board can currently have a total of seven to nine members, with five to seven appointed by the city and two appointed by the province. The proposed change would reduce the municipal portion to three to five of the members.

While that doesn’t guarantee a majority of provincial appointees if the recommendation is approved, the mayor’s office noted the board has always had just seven members since its creation.

In an emailed statement, Manitoba Justice Minister Cameron Friesen said the province is still considering the recommendations of the Police Services Act review, and is seeking community feedback to help guide decisions.

“The mayor is making ridiculous comments that have absolutely no basis, and are completely unhelpful. If the mayor has such strong concerns about the (act) review, why is it that has he never picked up the phone to discuss those concerns?” Friesen said Friday.

Provincial officials have discussed the matter with some city councillors, including Chambers, Friesen added.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca  

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga