New policing framework focus of FONOM

FONOM’s board of directors held a virtual meeting to discuss some common issues which affect municipalities across Northern Ontario including OPP policing.
President Danny Whalen says the board reviewed and discussed the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s Policy Paper on changing up the individual OPP detachment boards.
He says the paper notes that Northern Ontario is unique, but the board has identified several issues with the idea of having District Social Services Administration Boards, known as DSSABs, replacing individual detachment boards.
Whalen explains at this time every detachment has its own board to oversee policing and it has been acknowledged that Ontario Provincial policing is distinctive to each municipality.
He adds the current DSSAB’s would not be the best solution because of the discrepancy between the number of DSSAB boards and the number of OPP detachment boards.
He also points out that there are concerns about representation on those boards where municipalities do not have an OPP contract.
Whalen says the board plans to work on a better approach for Northern municipalities.