Sutcliffe 'confident' Ottawa police will restore trust
Ottawa mayor Mark Sutcliffe says he feels confident the Ottawa Police Service will be able to regain the community’s trust after the “Freedom Convoy” protest earlier this year.
CTV’s Patricia Boal asked Sutcliffe about a recent report into leaks from within the police service to protesters who occupied downtown Ottawa for three weeks in late January and February. The Public Order Emergency Commission, which is investigating the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act to end the protest, heard that the Ottawa Police Service cut off email access to members who were on leave to prevent off-duty members from accessing internal information.
The Canadian Press reports that OPS is refusing to say how many investigations into potential leaks were completed and how many remain ongoing.
Sutcliffe said he’s spoken to Ottawa police chief Eric Stubbs and agrees that work needs to be done.
“I think there’s a lot we have to do with the police service,” Sutcliffe said. “We have to rebuild trust in Ottawa’s police service.”
The mayor said it's important to be prepared for future events to ensure residents, particularly those who live downtown, are protected.
“I’m confident the police service, working with our partners at other levels of government, will be able to do that,” he said.
One of the “Freedom Convoy” organizers has said he is planning a “reunion” in February. James Bauder, who was arrested in February as police cleared the original convoy and was released on conditions not to return to Ottawa, says he is calling for a two-week “nationwide annual Canada Unity-Fest.” Bauder was one of the people responsible for the infamous "memorandum of understanding" that called on the Governor General and the Senate to work with a "citizen's coalition" to bypass the House of Commons and legislate an end to COVID-19 public health protections, including provincial and territorial mandates.
OPS said they are aware of Bauder's Facebook post outlining the plans.
Sutcliffe said he believes Stubbs, the Ottawa Police Services Board, and the members of the Ottawa Police Service will be able to restore confidence.
“There are other issues with policing in Ottawa and across North America as well, and we have to address those,” he said, without elaborating on what those issues are. “I’m confident that our new chief and the members of the police services board and the men and women in uniform at the Ottawa Police Service will rebuild trust in the service and restore confidence after what’s been obviously a difficult year.”
Sutcliffe has said he will take the mayor’s seat on the Ottawa Police Services Board—former mayor Jim Watson did not in the last term—but it’s unclear if he will be the chair of the board. The city’s nominating committee named Alta Vista Ward Coun. Marty Carr and Kanata North Ward Coun. Cathy Curry as the council members on the Ottawa Police Services Board on Tuesday but did not identify a chair. Council will vote to approve nominations Wednesday.
Earlier this month, an Ottawa Police Services Board meeting overseen by vice-chair Suzanne Valiquet was disrupted by a protest, prompting the board to cut the meeting short without hearing from Stubbs in what would have been his first verbal report as police chief. A special meeting was held Dec. 9 to complete the appointment of special constables, but it did not include a verbal report from the chief.
The Dec. 19 meeting of the Ottawa Police Services Board has been cancelled. The next meeting scheduled for Jan. 23, 2023.
City council meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than half of Canadians say freedom of speech is under threat, new poll suggests
A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians feel their right to freedom of speech is in danger.
NEW Kim Kardashian brand kids' sleepwear and more: Here are some recalls to watch out for
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Parents of infant who died in wrong-way crash on Ontario's Hwy. 401 were in same vehicle
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has released new details about a wrong-way collision in Whitby on Monday night that claimed the lives of four people.
Wally, the emotional support alligator once denied entry to a baseball game, is missing
Emotional support animal registrations in the United States reached 115,832 last year, by an industry group’s count. But in the eyes of reptile rescuer Joie Henney, there’s only one: 'Wally Gator.'
Maple Leafs down Bruins 2-1 to force Game 7
William Nylander scored twice and Joseph Woll made 22 saves as the Toronto Maple Leafs downed the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Thursday to force Game 7 in their first-round series.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Federal government to announce funding to help Toronto host six 2026 World Cup games
The federal government is set to announce funding to help Toronto host six matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Is your password 123456? Here's why you should make it stronger
With the sheer number of passwords needed today, it may come as no surprise that over 60 per cent of Canadians feel overwhelmed, and over a third reportedly forget their passwords monthly.
Three Quebec men from same family father hundreds of children
Three men in Quebec from the same family have fathered more than 600 children.