The Government of Canada is listening to Indigenous Peoples and the policing community

Press Release

September 8, 2016
Edmonton, Alberta
Public Safety Canada

The Government of Canada is committed to the safety and security of Indigenous Peoples and to engaging respectfully with them to make real progress on priority issues, such as community safety and policing.

Today, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness officially launched a series of regional dialogue sessions to help develop a renewed approach to funding Indigenous policing. These sessions will include Indigenous communities, provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous police services, policing associations, such as the First Nations Chiefs of Police Association, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Through these sessions, the Government is seeking perspectives on Indigenous policing, such as:

• Public safety challenges.
• Community safety and well-being.
• Promising and leading practices in Indigenous policing.
• Principles and objectives for a future approach to funding Indigenous policing.

In addition to the regional dialogue sessions, Government officials are gathering input from other stakeholders, online and in person, while visiting Indigenous communities.

The Government is committed to a renewed nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous Peoples based on recognition of rights, respect, cooperation, trust and partnership.

Quote

“By launching this dialogue process today, the Government of Canada is looking to its partners and stakeholders for real and meaningful input on how to better address the public safety and policing needs of Indigenous Peoples across Canada. It is important that Indigenous communities be engaged in each stage of the process to determine their policing needs.”

– The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Quick Facts

• In August 2016, following a two-day Cabinet retreat, Prime Minister Trudeau re-affirmed the Government’s commitment to making life better for Indigenous Peoples across Canada.
• In July 2016, the RCMP and the Assembly of First Nations signed a Relationship Building Protocol to promote relationship building and cooperation in policing matters.
• Through the First Nations Policing Program, the federal government provides funding, in collaboration with the provinces and territories, to support professional, dedicated and culturally responsive policing to over 450 Indigenous communities in Canada. Current agreements under the Program expire on March 31, 2018.

Associated Links

• Engagement on Indigenous Policing
• Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on a New Fiscal Relationship with the Assembly of First Nations

For more information, please visit the website www.publicsafety.gc.ca.

Contacts

Scott Bardsley
Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
613-998-5681

Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657

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