VICTORIA, B.C. – Today, the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act released their final report, Transforming Policing and Community Safety in British Columbia. Adam Olsen, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, and the BC Green Caucus representative on the Committee, has issued the following statement:
“These recommendations are the first step of many in reforming policing in this province, to restoring transparency and accountability, restoring trust in policing, and a first step in that transformational change.
“These recommendations were not made lightly. They are backed by the hundreds of hours of consultation with the people, the experts, the stakeholders, the survivors, the community leaders that we heard day in and day out. I raise my hands to every one of them who participated in this really important process.
“There are recommendations the government can begin work on immediately, such as striking an all-Party committee to review the Mental Health Act. Government need not delay this important work. The transformational change will take time, likely over a number of Parliaments and it is work that should not be only shouldered by the government of the day, it is work that is the responsibility of the entire Legislative Assembly and so I hope the Minister appoints an all-Party committee to oversee that work.
“Committee work is some of the most rewarding work in this assembly because of the multidimensional sides we bring to the table. This Committee has been committed to working openly and honestly, and I believe this work has been transformational, for both the members of this Committee and in the recommendations for policing reform in this province. It is my sincere hope that this style of collaboration continues in this House, and that this government implements the full scope of these recommendations with great urgency.”
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JoJo Beattie
Press Secretary
B.C. Green Caucus
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