Public Order Policy Consultation
Background
Ontario Regulation 392/23: Adequate and Effective Policing (General) made under the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 (Act), requires, among other things, that police service boards establish a policy on police action in respect of protests, demonstrations and occupations.
The policing of protests, demonstrations and occupations poses a complex and delicate challenge, as the Toronto Police Service (Service) is required to respect the constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly of all people, while also ensuring community safety and preserving the peace. Due to the unique complexity and considerable public interest in this matter, the Board is seeking the public’s input on the overriding principles and key elements that should be a part of this policy.
Community Engagement
The Board's Role in Setting a Public Order Policy
Under the Act, the Board must ensure the provision of adequate and effective policing and establish policies dealing with the administration of the Service. The Board is restricted from establishing policies with respect to specific investigations, the conduct of specific operations, or the management or discipline of specific police officers.
Furthermore, the Board is restricted from establishing policies that would require a Member of the Service to do something, or refrain from doing something, where this would be inconsistent with their duties under the Act or its regulations, or that would prohibit a Member of the Service from attempting to collect information for the purpose of investigating an offence or assisting with the prosecution of an offence.
Finally, the Board may not direct the actions of any Service Member other than the Chief of Police.
In light of these requirements and operational prohibitions, the Board’s Public Order Policy may:
- set the priorities for the Service in the area of policing protests, demonstrations and occupations, and;
- direct the Chief in establishing procedures that allow Service Members to execute their lawful duties in a manner that meets the expectations and values of the community.
Submissions
The Board is no longer accepting submissions for this consultations. Thank you to the hundreds of organizations and individuals who submitted their thoughts.
As was indicated at the time the consultation began, all submissions made as part of the consultation and received by August 30, 2024, now form part of the public record, and are posted on our Public Order Policy Consultation Submissions page.
While the submissions were edited to remove any personal information beyond names, the Board did not edit submissions for content. One submission was excluded due to inflammatory language which was also unrelated to the topic of the consultation. Nevertheless, given the need to allow for free expression on this very sensitive topic, the Board did not edit or exclude a number of submissions that may be deemed offensive or hurtful. Thus, the Board does not endorse the opinions contained in the submissions; they are shared solely pursuant to our original undertaking, and to enhance transparency and accountability.