Evidence of meeting #84 for Canadian Heritage in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was discrimination.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:30 p.m.
S/Sgt David Zackrias
We're looking at the areas of training, policies, data collection, recruitment, retention, all different aspects of policing.
I also want to point out to the committee that within our current Ottawa Police Service business plan, we have an EDI lens. That's equity, diversity, and inclusion. It applies to our entire business plan. We apply that lens to see if it meets those three areas of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
5:30 p.m.
S/Sgt David Zackrias
It's a lens we have. For example, for our transfer panels, who look at the transfer of members within the organization, we provide bias-neutral training. That's one of the pieces. We provide our promotion panel as well with bias-neutral training.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
Anju Dhillon Liberal Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC
Could you please provide the committee with a copy of that action plan?
5:30 p.m.
S/Sgt David Zackrias
The business plan itself?
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
5:30 p.m.
S/Sgt David Zackrias
Absolutely. It's available online at the Ottawa Police Service—
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
Anju Dhillon Liberal Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC
But we'd like you to submit it, please, to our committee.
5:30 p.m.
S/Sgt David Zackrias
Sure.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
Anju Dhillon Liberal Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC
Thank you so much.
I'm assuming that police officers have psychological tests before they are trained to become officers. Does one part of those tests include dealing with their own biases or prejudices?
5:30 p.m.
S/Sgt David Zackrias
While going through the recruitment process, the officers do go through psychological testing. It's been 20 years since I did mine, so I can't speak to the test, but it is done through professionals.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
Anju Dhillon Liberal Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC
Do you think such questions would help weed out those who have prejudices? Our jails are full of a disproportionate amount of indigenous people and black people. If we could weed out those officers...because when somebody has a prejudice and they're in a position of power, this can have a devastating effect on the person who is singled out and stereotyped and arrested for whatever reason.
Do you think these psychological tests should include that?
5:30 p.m.
S/Sgt David Zackrias
Absolutely. As well, we have quite a rigorous recruitment process. We do thorough background checks on applicants to see if any flags pop up during the background phase.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
Anju Dhillon Liberal Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC
What could the federal government do to help in this aspect of police training and limiting prejudices?
5:30 p.m.
S/Sgt David Zackrias
We've talked about a national strategy here, about building awareness. We need to talk about these issues. We can't just discount it and say that it's happening “down south”. If we don't deal with this head-on, it will manifest. We don't want to see the issues that are happening in Europe, where communities are marginalized, alienated, and segregated. What happens then?
That's where we as leaders, as government, as law enforcement need to be able to be there for those communities and prevent that alienation. We need to be proactive. We need to diagnose these issues thoroughly in order for us to prevent that, or to find the cure.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Peter Van Loan
I want to thank the panel very much.
Members of the committee, thank you.
Can I have a motion to adjourn?
Yes, Mr. Anderson.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Mr. Chair, I'm just wondering if on Wednesday we can take the last 15 minutes to maybe talk about the drafting of the report. It's our last meeting, right? I think the intent was that the report would be written, or at least drafted, while we were gone.
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Peter Van Loan
There seems to be a consensus about that. That note will be reflected, and I will encourage you to take that up at the next meeting.
Do we have a motion to adjourn?
Mr. Reid makes the motion. All in favour?
5:35 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
5:35 p.m.
Conservative