Do you believe that the recommendations of the Independent Police Oversight Review will lead to positive change with respect to transparency and accountability by police officers in Ontario?

Ken Singh

Legal Practitioner

I do. We cannot have police investigating police. We need accountability and transparency. Just look at CARIBANA. We need change. Change is good. These three bodies need to do a better job as they serve the community and not be a stumbling block.

So I have confidence in the process and I trust it will be for the betterment of the community.

Vernon Bassue

Senior

Who knows? We have to wait and see. I have worked in the community for several years  with different levels of government, bringing  our community concerns to their attention.  I served with Dudley Laws as we  marched for justice in our community. There is still more work to be done.  The young people in organizations such as Black Lives Matter, are doing a good job. Let’s  continue the good work.

Louis March

Community activist

It gives us new opportunity to reinvent it. As it stands right now, we don’t have faith in it.  Should it disappear? Nobody will miss it.  They lost the mandate. We we were excited to have the SIU initially, but today, it’s toothless.

We continue to work in the community  and members of the community and police can work on a united front.

Garnett Manning

Former Brampton City Councillor

I agree. The calls for police accountability and transparence came from community elders such as Dudley Laws  and others who had vision.  I know Justice Michael Tulloch personally as we were the recipients of awards in the community,

We have a  responsibility to work together to build bridges in a holistic way – body, soul and mind.  So I am looking forward to the recommendations, in a positive light.

Len Carby

Chair,

Black Community Advisory Council for United Way

I am hopeful it will it  make a difference and lead to positive changes in the community but since I have not seen the final recommendations  of the review, it is hard to speak with an informed opinion.

What I do know, though, is that this work, and I have confidence in Justice Michael and his team, is not in vain and will lead to some changes.  I have all the confidence they will do a good job and trust the it will be evidenced-  based  and not just the opinion of one person.

Audrey Campbell

Former President

Jamaican  Canadian Association

Yes. The first Independent Police Oversight Review was held at the Jamaican Canadian Centre where members of the community were given the opportunity to tell their stories. Justice l Tulloch even allowed some speakers to go beyond their allotted time, which was remarkable. He saw the need for folks to use the opportunity to speak and they expressed themselves accordingly.

He has an extremely  competent team, and I do know some of them,  and so I have faith in the work being done. I am aware of the disappoints of some of the previous studies in the community, when the recommendations come out. So it’s up to us to be resilient  and continue to press for change.