Staff
After a lengthy in-camera session at the Treaty #3 Police Services’ annual general meeting in Kenora on Tuesday, area chiefs decided to replace the current board with new leadership.
Chairman Wayne Smith stepped down, with Shoal Lake 39 Chief Eli Mandamin taking over the position.
Although a 45-day layoff notice given to officers earlier this month was not rescinded, the new board was meeting today for orientation and then will discuss the woes that have been facing the police service.
Treaty #3 police officers received word July 4 that the board would be shutting down and laying off all of its officers within 45 days.
Letters of correspondence between the board and the Public Service Alliance of Canada, which represents the Treaty #3 police officers, indicated financial difficulties as a reason for the shutdown.
News of the shutdown sparked outrage among many band members across the Treaty #3 region, with several sessions held—some by the union—indicating they would fight to keep the police service open.
A petition bearing 2,470 signatures was presented at Tuesday’s annual general meeting and many attended it.
Most seemed pleased with the outcome of the meeting and are hopeful the police service has been saved.
“The new board [the chiefs] have agreed to transfer the [chairman’s] seat back to community representatives in three-six months,” Tania Cameron, of Dalles First Nation, noted on Facebook.
“They have also agreed to give the officers’ union access to the books,” she said.
“The board and officers are mandated to come to a resolution once a review is conducted,” Cameron added.
Mandamin is expected to speak to media following today’s meeting of the new board.
