For Immediate Release
August 25th, 2015
Statement by Mayor Crombie: Public Meetings – Police Street Checks
The following is a statement by Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie following a public meeting about police street checks held by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. The Ministry is working to regulate police street checks and is seeking input from members of the public.
“Let me begin by thanking the thoughtful residents and stakeholders who participated in this important community consultation.
“Tonight’s meeting was an opportunity for me to hear from the residents of Mississauga and Peel about their ideas and solutions to keep our community safe.
“As the debate over carding and street checks continues to unfold at the local level, I am encouraged that the provincial government is using the summer months to undertake its own consultations about this issue.
“Peel is an important community to hold these types of consultations in. We are home to rapidly growing and diverse neighbourhoods. Our residents need to have their voices heard in order to build a safer, more dynamic and inclusive Ontario.
“The Peel Region Police street check review I championed in June, as a member of the Police Services Board, is ongoing, and will be reported on this fall. This review will also look to incorporate findings from tonight’s public meeting.
“We continuously review all of our policies and procedures and this is no different. If there are problems, we will fix them.”
“It is important that we provide our front line officers with the tools they need to do their job, and to be safe in the line of duty. At the same time we must always, first and foremost, protect the rights and freedoms of all residents, despite race, religion or ethnicity.”
“Everyone in the community must feel safe, but no one should feel targeted, and tonight’s meeting is an important step forward to help us achieve this unwavering goal.”
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