THUNDER BAY -- A little over three months since Senator Murray Sinclair was appointed to investigate the Thunder Bay Police Services Board, on Friday the Ontario Civilian Police Commission released his interim report.
The retired Manitoba judge, who also chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, was appointed in late July by the OCPC after Indigenous leaders questioned the Board's ability to oversee adequate and effective policing.
They focused primarily on the role of the TBPSB in relation to police handling of investigations into the deaths of Indigenous people in the city, telling the OCPC there was "a crisis of confidence."
Sinclair states in his report that "It is trite to say that there are significant concerns in Thunder Bay about the manner in which police conduct death and missing person investigations of Indigenous persons."
He says that his research has found that "concerns about the intersection of racism, systemic racism and policing in Thunder Bay are not new." One of the questions he says he intends to pursue is the Board's level of awareness of previous reports expressing those concerns, and the measures taken to address previous recommendations.
The interim report outlines numerous other goals that Sinclair has set as he continues his investigation into the New Year.
He says he is concerned about a noticeable decline in the proportion of the Board's current business plan that's dedicated to addressing Indigenous issues, in comparison with business plans of prior years.
"The 2008-2010 Business Plan appears to have put much more emphasis on issues of importance to First Nations and Indigenous people...The divergence between (previous plans) and the 2015-2017 business plan is striking and raises questions that will be explored further with the TBPSB and other parties."
Sinclair says he hopes to be able to help the Board lead the police service and the community forward in a way that identifies and acknowledges the problem of racism in the force...coupled with "a sincere intent" to assist the Board in addressing unconscious bias, systemic racism and discrimination against Indigenous people.
The interim report also points to some possible recommendations, including permanently designating a position on the Board for an Indigenous person, and ensuring that the makeup of the Thunder Bay Police Service more proportionally represents the city's Indigenous population.
Sinclair does not rule out the possibility that one other outcome of his investigation is that it could lead to "proceedings under section 23 or section 24 of the Police Services Act."
Those sections give the OCPC the power to suspend or remove chiefs of police and Board members, and appoint an administrator for Boards.
TBPSB chair Jackie Dojack said Friday she received a copy of the interim report a couple of days earlier.
Dojack said the Board had not had a chance to discuss it, but she feels it shows that the judge is open-minded and thorough, and will focus on recommendations that will assist the Board.
She said the Board has been in regular contact with Sinclair and his team, providing whatever information they request, as well as additional information the Board feels may be useful for the investigation.
The leadership of Nishnawbe Aski Nation were not available Friday for comment.
Sinclair's final report is expected by the end of March, 2018.
