THUNDER BAY - City councillor Shelby Ch’ng said she understands that stepping into the role as a member of the Thunder Bay Police Services Board will not be easy, but she is prepared to work and believes her experience on city council will help move the police service forward.
“I am rolling up my sleeves and there to work and to figure out how to move forward with this and that is the best I can do,” she said.
Ch’ng was unanimously appointed by city council to the Police Services Board on Monday following a discussion in closed session and she will be filling one of three vacancies left following the resignation of several members of the board last month.
The resignation of chair Kristen Oliver, who is also a city councillor, as well as the two provincial appointees, Roydon Pelletier and Michael Power, came just days after the Ontario Civilian Police Commission appointed administrator, Malcolm Mercer, to oversee the board for what it called an emergency and the board’s inability to work effectively.
Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro remains on the board, along with civilian appointee Georjann Morriseau, who has previously filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario alleging discrimination and harassment on the part of the board.
Ch’ng said she has been following the issues surrounding the Police Services Board and the investigations that are ongoing.
“I am not in a position to be optimistic about my influence on the board,” she said. “All I know is I have eight years of experience working on a number of boards and committees. I’ve been in Thunder Bay through some very difficult times in the last eight years.”
Ch’ng is in her second term as the city councillor for the Northwood ward and she says throughout her eight years on council she has sat on a number of different boards and she felt a duty to step up and fill one of the vacancies on the Police Services Board.
“There’s really no option to leave the seat empty. Unfortunately, the volunteer lineup for this is short but we do need to have it filled,” she said. “This isn’t an easy job and there are not a lot of people willing or able to do it.”
Ch’ng added that even if she cannot vote due to the appointment of the administrator, it is still important for city council to have its voice heard on the board.
“I am very concerned with everything concerning the police board and police situation right now,” she said. “I don’t pretend to know any of the answers. What I do know is my experience at counsel makes me the right person to fill this in at the moment.”
City council appoints three members of the Thunder Bay Police Services Board, including two members of council and a civilian member, while the province appoints two members.
