Plenty of topics were put in front of regional councillors at their latest meeting, but contention was raised around an updated Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan (CSWP), with Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) not mentioned in the updated document.
That plan is designed to target emerging issues throughout Waterloo Region, looking to develop initiatives, projects, and regional resources to target those designated areas.
“The plan was developed through consultations with over 90 CSWP partners, including community agencies, diverse grassroots groups, youth representatives, Indigenous leaders, and system partners,” said regional staff in the report brought to council.
In the newest plan, which was brought forward to regional council during its latest meeting, the plan targets four key areas.
Those priorities include:
- Combatting Hate
- Intimate Partner Violence/Gender-Based Violence/MMIWG2S+
- Mental Health and Addictions
- Safe and Inclusive Spaces
“The Community Safety and Policing Act (2019) requires municipalities to develop and refresh Community Safety and Wellbeing Plans every four years,” the report said. “Waterloo Region adopted its first CSWP framework in 2022.”
While council agreed regarding those listed priorities and the document as a whole, some contention was raised around the inclusion, or rather the lack of inclusion, of regional police in that report.
“For me personally, as a member of the board sitting here for four years, watching the continual attacks on the police board, the policing community, and we’re then here tonight saying we should be asking for more things to be done, when there’s a lack of support around this table, from my perspective, for the police in general,” said Councillor Doug Craig. “I think that needs to be addressed.”
Craig said that he feels council members have been harsh on the regional police service when it comes to its budget and ongoing operations, adding that he believes the police haven’t been properly supported by the region over the past four years.
“I’ve brought this up on a number of occasions, and I’ve mentioned about the attacks on the police board members on ‘quote’ transparency, etcetera, and so on,” Craig added. “I think tonight, if we go ahead with this, if I’m going to support, then let’s also start a new venue in terms of the policing community in general, and how we’re going to support them in a demonstrative way instead of endless criticism all the time.”
Craig’s comments were met with some contention from Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, who fought to get a word in after Craig’s statement, which was quickly addressed by Regional Chair Karen Redman.
“Point of order, point of order, Madam Chair,” Vrbanovic said.
“No, I’m not going to get into a debate, Councillor Vrbanovic. That was a statement, and it is what it is,” said Redman.
“I’m entitled to have a point of order.”
“What’s your point of order?”
“My point of order, Madame Chair, is that there was not a single mention of police or police budgets this evening. We were talking about a policy document that’s before this regional council. I respect Councillor Craig and his views on those issues, but I would ask that we stay on the topic at hand,” said Vrbanovic.
“Well, I also mentioned transparency, Madame Chair,” Craig said, before Chair Redman moved the conversation along.
Council ultimately approved the policy, now set to be discussed further later in the Spring, alongside WRPS.
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