(July 5, 2023 – Toronto, ON) Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare issued the following statement regarding the Federal Court’s order directing funding to flow to Indigenous Police Services:

“The Chiefs of Ontario is pleased with ruling of the Federal Court on a motion filed by Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario (IPCO),” said Regional Chief Hare. “This is a win for our First Nations and a precursory step in the right direction in addressing the inequities that our communities have historically faced with regard to policing.”

Earlier this year, Ontario First Nations police chiefs filed a human rights complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) over the federal government’s chronic underfunding of police services. This complaint was launched due to First Nations suffering discriminatory underfunding and under-resourcing of their police services, which police chiefs claim leads to higher crime and unsafe communities.

IPCO then filed a motion requesting emergency relief and an order requiring Public Safety Canada (PSC) to suspend application of the discriminatory Terms and Conditions of funding under the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program (FNIPP). On June 30, the Federal Court issued its ruling that Public Safety Canada immediately flow funds to Treaty #3 Police Services (T3PS), UCCM Anishinaabe Police Service, and the Anishinabek Police Service (APS) over a 12-month period, while IPCO continues with their CHRT compliant in pursuit of fair and equitable tripartite agreements. These police services have been without funding as of March 31, 2023, jeopardizing the health and safety of 45 First Nations and affecting approximately 30,000 individuals.

“First Nations who are policed by First Nations Police Services have been short-changed for decades,” said Regional Chief Hare. “This Federal Court decision is the beginning of change to stop inequity, but it is only the first step.”

“We shouldn’t have to consistently retreat to the courts for redress to ensure our citizens, communities, and police officers have the fundamental basics and safety that is already guaranteed to all other Ontarians,” added Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief Travis Boissoneau.

“I am calling on Public Safety Canada to meet IPCO at the table on an urgent basis and negotiate their agreements in good faith, and to protect and uphold First Nations policing as the essential service it is,” said Regional Chief Hare.

“The safety and the well-being of our First Nations is of the utmost importance, and we must collectively continue this work to ensure that First Nation Policing Services are held to the highest of standards.”

Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare

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The Chiefs of Ontario support all First Nations in Ontario as they assert their sovereignty, jurisdiction and their chosen expression of nationhood. Follow Chiefs of Ontario on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @ChiefsOfOntario.

Media Contact:

Christopher Hoyos
Director of Policy and Communications
Policy and Communications Sector
Chiefs of Ontario
Telephone: (416) 579 4998
Email: Chris.Hoyos@coo.org