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The Canadian Association of Police Boards (CAPB) is the only national organization dedicated to excellence in police governance in Canada. Since 1989, CAPB has worked diligently to achieve the highest standards as the national voice of civilian oversight of municipal police. We have grown to represent more than 75 municipal police boards and commissions across Canada that together employ in excess of 35,000 police personnel - approximately three-quarters of the municipal police personnel in Canada.
Cyberbullying Bill C-273 The Canadian Association of Police Boards was discouraged to learn that the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights had recommended that the House of Commons not proceed further with Bill C-273, An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (cyberbullying). CAPB testified in front of the committee that this would be an important step forward in combatting cyberbullying. As with the sponsor of the Bill, Dr. Hedy Fry, MP, we believe that a national anti-bullying strategy is needed in Canada, and this Bill would be one step in that direction. In 2009, CAPB passed a resolution calling for the federal government to “pass legislation to increase and strengthen current Criminal Code provision to criminalize cyberbullying behaviours and to increase the accountability of technological service providers for ongoing abuses of their systems.” CAPB believes C-273 would achieve this goal and we encourage all Members of Parliament to support C-273 on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 and vote against the Justice Committee’s recommendation to not proceed further with the Bill.
CAPB PRESIDENT ATTENDS NATIONAL SUMMIT ON THE ECONOMICS OF POLICING Strengthening Canada's Policing Advantage A Civilian Perspective on Evolution of Policing CAPB update on Economics of Policing Closing Remarks National Summit on the Economics of Policing
UPDATE on Summit from CAPB President, Dr. Alok Mukherjee I am pleased to report to you on the Economics of Policing Summit, held January 16/17, in 2013 and hosted by Public Safety Canada. This event marks a milestone in the Canadian Association of Police Board’s ongoing focus on the sustainability of public policing. The CAPB has been spearheading this initiative, working with its partners, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Police Association, to widen the discussion and bring the federal and provincial governments into the discussion. In that regard, the event represents a significant step forward. As I set out in the attached media release, it is the first time that any of us can remember where we have police practioners and government officials in the same room, consulting on the same underlying issues and seeking possible solutions. What was striking is the commonality in themes from international speakers, many of whom were representing jurisdictions that had change forced upon them because of fiscal realities (i.e. United Kingdom and New Zealand). They were quick to state that Canada had a unique opportunity to do this right and to undertake change in an orderly, unified and successful manner. Equally striking to those of us in the CAPB is that many of the solutions offered by the speakers echoed the conclusions reached by the CAPB membership during the plenary session held last August. We voted as a group and achieved consensus on four points to advance policing in the face of challenging economic conditions and changing societal needs. I repeat them below:
1) The issue of public safety requires a ‘whole system’ approach. The police community needs to engage our partners – those in health, education, social services and justice to name a few – in a meaningful dialogue on a more integrated approach for the future. However, to do so, it is vital the police community come to as much of a common understanding and develop its own knowledge base on the issues before doing so. 2) We need to build a repository of knowledge and then undertake research to ensure that best practices are just that – best practices. We need a central resource in Canada on police issues that will maintain, develop, analyze and continue to enhance our understanding of best practices in public safety – not just in Canada but throughout the world. 3) We must develop the next generation of police leaders alive to and eager to grapple with these new challenges. We must begin by identifying needed competencies in future leaders who will guide these reforms and lead us to a more integrated world of public safety and policing. Then we have to work to develop systems to develop these competencies. 4) Finally, once we establish our next steps – we must reach out to all major players, including the three levels of government to develop a shared vision and from that a shared agenda. Points one and two, in particular, were repeatedly emphasized as the best road to the future.
What’s Next At the end of the two-days, a senior official from Public Safety Canada stated that there is full political support to develop an action plan. He repeated that Canada remains ahead of the curve and it is vital to harness the knowledge and energy of those in the room. Next steps include the drafting of a ‘Shared Forward Agenda’ including the identification of activities that must be undertaken. The deadline for this is Spring, 2013. Next is a broader collaboration and engagement with stakeholders, including the CAPB. This will take place during the Spring/Summer, 2013. Finally, the results of this work will culminate with a Shared Forward Agenda for policing in Canada being presented to the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers in Autumn/2013. I advised the government officials that the CAPB remains fully committed and behind this agenda. We identified very early the changing landscape and we believe there are better ways to deliver police services while remaining accountable and understanding of the fiscal situation facing our funding bodies. It is our hope that we can continue working with our Coalition partners duringthis period. The next few months has great potential for change if – as Sir Denis O’Connor so clearly stated – we are willing to seize the moment. I know the CAPB is and will do its share and more on this hugely important issue. I will keep you informed every step of the way as we move forward, including sharing information from the Summit as it becomes available. In the meantime, I am pleased to post a copy of my opening remarks "A Civilian Perspective on Evolution of Policing" as well as the remarks I delivered at the closing of the Summit "Closing Remarks".
Very sincerely,
Dr. Alok Mukherjee President |
CAPB Conference Registration & Program now Available! Visit the Annual Conference page to register for the conference and the pre-conference workshop, and to view the CAPB 2013 Conference Program.
CAPB appears at Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security studying the Economics of Policing (Ottawa)— On Thursday, January 31, 2013 Dr. Alok Mukherjee, the President of the Canadian Association of Police Boards (CAPB), appeared before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) that is examining the economics of policing in Canada.
Reports of Interest Volunteers in Police Service Add Value While Budgets Decrease CAPB Board Connection 16.10.12
CAPB Executive 2012-2013 
CAPB President, Dr. Alok Mukherjee 
Vice-President, Cathy Palmer
Secretary-Treasurer, David Walker 
Executive-Director, Jennifer Lanzon |
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