Manitoba policing review will give more teeth to oversight bodies

The Manitoba government is studying 70 recommendations to improve policing and thecivilian oversight body, justice minister Cliff Cullen said on Thursday.

He anticipates the final report will focus onoversight and accountabilityreforms,guidance on new policingstandards,enhancing civilian governance, as well as improving public safety services and community well-being, Cullen told a conference call with reporters.

He said the public will learn more when the long-awaited review of the Police Services Actis released later this year.

"It is important to stress that this is the beginning of a considerable amount of work that willinvolvesignificant research and further consultations with our police agencies, municipalities, Indigenous leaders and an array of other groups," the justice minister told reporters.

"With this review, we will have a road map for where we need to go to modernize police services in our province and the legislation that governs policing."

Cullen wouldn't get into specific details of the proposed recommendations, including whethernumerous protests demanding police reforms played any role in the report. He acknowledged the calls to reform or dismantlepolice forces have been growinglouder.

"Obviously,that's been a public discussion for sure," he said."I will say public safety is paramount for us as a government, and we will continue to make sure that public safety is first and foremost."

More bite for IIU

He also said on Thursday thegovernment wouldstrive to introduce new legislation to strengthenthe Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba, thecivilian oversight agency that investigates serious incidents involving police, next year.

During a spat last year whenpolicing authorities questioned whether Manitoba's police watchdog had the right to demand cadet notes, Cullensaid the Police Services Act legislation has "some holes in it."

The justice ministerpreviously said the external review, conducted every five years,would be tabledthis spring, but he noted Thursday the pandemic has prompted delays.

Thereview is being led by theCommunity Safety Knowledge Alliance, a Saskatchewan-based non-profit that focuses on community safety.