Independent police oversight board needs to be government priority, says PC MHA

PC MHA Helen Conway-Ottenheimer says the province's Liberal government isn't doing enough to prioritize the creation of a civilian-led police oversight board in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The provincial government introduced the Law Enforcement Oversight Commission Act in the House of Assembly in the fall, but it never moved beyond a first reading before the House closed for the year.

That came nearly two years after Indigenous coalition First Voice recommended the province create the board to improve police oversight and accountability.

"Newfoundland and Labrador does not have a comprehensive police oversight system as exists in virtually every other province in this country," Conway-Ottenheimer, the PC Party's justice critic, told CBC News Wednesday.

"We're in 2024, almost 2025, and we still see no legislation to address the problems that exist in our province."

In 2022, John Hogan — justice minister at the time — said the province would seriously consider creating an oversight board.

WATCH | The CBC's Mark Quinn reports on the lack of movement in creating an independent police oversight board:

Two years after it was called for, an independent police oversight board still doesn't exist in N.L.

18 days ago

Duration 3:04

In 2022, First Voice called for a civilian-led, oversight board that would direct police policy and improve transparency and accountability. At the time, then-justice minister John Hogan said the province would consider creating one. PC Justice Critic Helen Conway Ottenheimer is disappointed it hasn't happened yet. The CBC’s Mark Quinn reports.

Without a board in place by the end of 2024, Conway-Ottenheimer questioned whether it was still a priority of government.

"We could have sat another few days, for sure, to address it. But yet it obviously wasn't a priority," she said.

CBC News asked current Justice Minister Bernard Davis for comment, but received an emailed statement that said he can't speak to legislation that hasn't moved beyond a first reading in the House of Assembly.

Conway-Ottenheimer said she also can't speak to the Act's contents, but says it's an important Act to pass quickly.

"It means that there's transparency of our policing institutions. It means accountability. It will, in essence, mean a better police force in our province," she said.

"The fact that this legislation did not see the light of day is very concerning."

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