First Nations and First Nations organizations have long called for fundamental changes to how police services are delivered in their communities, including calls for legislation that recognizes that First Nations policing is an essential service that must be funded accordingly.
Today, Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino, Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu, and Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller launched the Government of Canada's engagement process to help inform the co-development of federal First Nations police services legislation.
Input is being sought from First Nations, First Nations police services and representative organizations, as well as provinces and territories, who will each have their unique perspectives, experiences and expertise to share. To encourage maximum participation, the Government is seeking input through virtual engagement sessions, an online engagement platform and email. Anyone with an interest in First Nations police services legislation will be able to share their views online. These activities will culminate in the public release of a "what we heard" report and inform a symposium where legal, policing and other experts will discuss what was heard during the engagement process.
Public Safety Canada is providing the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) with $4.4 million to participate in the co-development process, including undertaking its own complementary engagement processes, at both the national and regional levels. Individuals are welcome to participate in either the federal or AFN processes, or both. Results from both engagement processes will help inform the co-development of options for legislation.
Public Safety Canada is also providing the First Nations Chiefs of Police Association (FNCPA) with up to $1.3 million to support its involvement in the co-development process. The FNCPA represents First Nations police services in Canada and has expertise that will help ensure that the legislation will meet the needs of both First Nations and First Nations police services.
Recognizing their important role, including that of co-funders, provinces and territories will continue to be deeply involved in the co-development of federal legislation to ensure that new legislation will be complementary to provincial/territorial legislation and jurisdiction.
While the engagement activities and funding announced today will inform the co-development of federal police services legislation for First Nations, the Government of Canada has also begun engaging the Inuit and Métis to better understand their unique policing needs and priorities, and to determine how best to support them.
