THUNDER BAY - Thunder Bay’s police services board voted unanimously in favour of drafting a letter to address the lack of funding associated to guns and gangs in the city to be sent to the Ministry of Solicitor General in Tuesday’s electronic meeting.
The proposed letter was supposed to be sent after the last police board meeting in February once Board Chair Georjann Morriseau met with the minister of the solicitor general in person, according to a report provided by the police board.
However, the current public health crisis surrounding COVID-19 had delayed that meeting, Morriseau said in Tuesday’s meeting.
“Pretty well immediately following our last board meeting the COVID-19 crisis struck and things came to a halt so I have not had an opportunity to meet with the solicitor general and have asked that we defer this until even the next meeting,” she said, adding it would be preferred to meet in person.
According to notes in the April 21 board meeting agenda, the letter was to be hand-delivered to the minister from the board to address the lack of funding relating to issues associated with guns and gangs in Thunder Bay.
Thunder Bay Police Service Chief Sylvie Hauth advised the board back in February that funding had been denied in the area of gang activity locally while other regions across the province had received similar funding.
Board member Mayor Bill Mauro questioned Morriseau on whether continuing to defer sending the letter would be an efficient idea.
“Nobody could have predicted the COVID-19 crisis and the situation we all find ourselves,” he said, adding there was significant discussion at the last meeting on why a letter could not be sent earlier.
“I think councillor Oliver and I felt that we could do both, we could send the letter and still have allowed you to have the opportunity for a meeting at your earliest convenience,” he said. “I would say the COVID-19 situation and the inability to have a meeting now is more of a reason than ever to send the letter now, not delay it even further.”
Mauro went on to explain the uncertainty the COVID-19 pandemic brings and how it shouldn’t be an excuse to prevent the advocacy work from the board and the police service continuing when it relates to the issues of guns and gangs.
“I think there is more reason than ever actually that we would move forward with the letter now because…we don’t know if we will be in this position for four weeks or eight weeks from now,” he said.
The board voted in favour of drafting a letter which would then be reviewed by the committee before it would be sent to the Minister during Tuesday’s meeting.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the board also voted in favour of allowing electronic participation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
