PC Justice shadow criticizes government for lack of civilian police oversight board

    Tuesday, 3 June 2025 06:00

    By Tonya Organ

    Helen Conway Ottenheimer says Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the few provinces in Canada without a comprehensive police oversight system

    The PC Shadow Minister for Justice and Public Safety,  Helen Conway Ottenheimer, is criticizing government for its failure to prioritize the establishment of a civilian police oversight board, a recommendation made over two years ago by the Indigenous coalition First Voice. She says the introduction of the Law Enforcement Oversight Commission Act in the House of Assembly in 2024 has yielded no identifiable progress, adding that government’s indifference continues to raise serious questions about its commitment to this important issue.

    Conway Ottenheimer says Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the few provinces in Canada without a comprehensive police oversight system and a recent survey by Leger showed nearly three quarters of NL residents feel less safe today than they did five years ago, and 67 percent identify drug trafficking as a major issue in their communities. 

     

     

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