Thank you to the member for the question.
With the experience and knowledge that we have, we believe that the structure as it is right now needs some clarification with regard to its mandate in dealing with race, racism or discrimination. There's a blur with regard to police misconduct and police standards, shall we say, and norms of practice and the whole issue of discrimination and human rights. I believe that the present commissioner's office is looking into it right now. We need more clarification.
Based on our experience and knowledge of the system, I believe we also need greater outreach and community engagement. Based on my experience with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police in the 1990s, the police departments and police chiefs were very successful in reaching out to the communities because it takes leadership. It takes proactive leadership to reach out. Don't wait for problems to come to your door. The leadership of the person at the top can make a big difference.
Our experience with many people from different backgrounds is that the people are not against the police. People want to have effective police services—sensitive, accessible and friendly police services. They're ready to engage, but often there is a great distance between the police department and police leadership and the communities—the ordinary people—out there. That's the advice I would like to give to police chiefs and also to those who are concerned about promoting positive police-community relations.