KENORA — Supreme Court of Canada ruled against the province of Quebec this week in a case the Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario said has "major implications for Indigenous community safety and policing."
The ruling deemed Indigenous police services chronically underfunded. It dismissed all points of appeal from Quebec making this a landmark ruling for community safety and First Nations police forces across Canada.
“First Nations should never have to choose between the safety of their members and the consequences of systemic neglect,” said Chief of Police at Treaty Three Cheryl Gervais.
In Treaty Three Territory, Treaty Three Police services cover 23 communities and approximately 20,000 residents.
“It is time for Canada to take immediate and meaningful action to address these longstanding funding disparities," said Gervais. "Indigenous policing is an essential service and must be recognized and supported as such.”
Despite a ruling in 1996 that required equitable police funding, Indigenous services continued to face difficulties in delivering services due to funding issues. Quebec has been ordered to take immediate steps to ensure equity in funding compared to non-Indigenous forces.
The Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario (IPCO) participated in the case as an intervenor speaking on the impacts of chronic underfunding of services leading to major safety issues for communities. The IPCO covers 86 communities and nice self-administered police services in Ontario.
Having a collective voice brings strength to the messaging and their ability to act said Gervais.
“The unity and strength of the Tri-Coalition—a collaboration of Indigenous police services—demonstrate the power of coming together to address systemic inequities. By amplifying our collective voice, we continue to advocate for the equitable and sustainable funding that is essential to the safety and well-being of our communities.”
The lack of funding and dismissal of Indigenous safety is a part of a Human Rights Tribunal set to begin January 6, 2025. Gervais said this systemic inequity is why it is being brought forward as a human rights complaint.
The IPCO v. Public Safety Canada tribunal will take place in Ottawa and will hear from community members, police services and safety experts to address the needs of Indigenous communities because of Canada’s ongoing discrimination in Ontario, said the release on the ruling.
