CBC Asks: Defunding the police — is this the solution?

Protests in response to racism and police brutality against Black and Indigenous peoples are gaining momentum — and with them, calls for police reform are growing.

At the heart of it is the call to take a hard look at the role of police in our communities: the types of situations they are expected to respond to and whether it's time to defund the police. In other words, should we take some of the resources from police coffers and reallocate those funds to social services programs?

But not everyone is sure about what that would mean, and whether it's the right course of action.

WATCH | CBC Asks: Defunding the police — is this the solution?

CBC Asks: Defunding the police — is this the solution?

4 years ago

Duration 33:02

Calls to defund the police are raising questions about the nature of policing and its future. What does it mean to defund the police and is it the solution? CBC News at Six host Janet Stewart spoke with Winnipeg panellists Sheila North, Markus Chambers and Zilla Jones.

That's why on Tuesday CBC Manitoba hosted a community-driven conversation to keep the dialogue going on a special CBC Asks live discussion, asking the question: "Defunding the police: Is this the solution?"

CBC News at Six host Janet Stewart joined panellists Zilla Jones, an author and Winnipeg lawyer; Sheila North, a Cree advocate and former grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO); and deputy mayor of Winnipeg Markus Chambers.