THUNDER BAY – City police will issue a public response to a recent letter from the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s chief commissioner.
During a closed session at the Thunder Bay Police Services Board meeting Tuesday, the board discussed a letter from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which was released Oct. 27, 2016.
The letter states the Ontario Human Rights Commission believes the allegations of racism and systemic discrimination within the Thunder Bay Police Service requires proactive and immediate steps, and has requested the Thunder Bay Police Service and its board commit to a new human rights strategy.
Board chair Jacqueline Dojack said a public response letter will be issues to Ontario Human Rights Commission chief commissioner Renu Mandhane as early as Tuesday afternoon.
“We will be cooperating,” Dojack said. “We will be building on work we’ve already done and we will also we involved in a project.”
The letter asked for the Thunder Bay Police Service to publicly commit to a coordinated, time-bound and appropriately resourced human rights organization change project.
Dojack added that there will not be a lot of details at this point.
“The details will be developing over the next period of time,” Dojack said.
“When we have a product that we are going to be able to work on, and when the project details are available then those will be made public, but those details are not available at this moment.”
She added that the Thunder Bay Police Service will collaborating with the Human Rights Commission on developing the project, and when they know exactly what the project is, it will be made public.
“It will take some time.” She said. “In order to have a meaningful project, it’s going to take some time to develop and resource it.”
Dojack said until they have the complete details to the project, it is unknown as to what the budget will be.
