London police board not backing down on push for diversity among appointees
The London police services board is requesting a meeting with provincial officials to address concerns about a lack of diversity on the board responsible for overseeing policing in the city.
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The London police services board is requesting a meeting with provincial officials to address concerns about a lack of diversity on the board responsible for overseeing policing in the city.
The province appointed three new police board members between December and February to fill vacancies after one member’s term expired and two others resigned to take roles on other provincial boards.
In response, the board is raising concerns specifically about a lack of Indigenous and Black members, according to a letter sent to Ontario Solicitor General Sylvia Jones and Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton.
“To be clear, we also recognize, value and deeply appreciate the incredible depth of experience and knowledge that the current city and provincial appointees bring to the London police services board,” the two-page letter says.
“Our concern about the lack of diversity should not be taken as undermining or devaluing any individual appointee on the board. Respectfully, focusing on the merits of the current appointees is a red herring.”
The board had written to Jones and McNaughton in February requesting an Indigenous or Black person be appointed, citing the need for the board to better represent the community it serves and include diverse members with lived experience.
The province appointed former London city councillor Nancy Branscombe to fill the most recent vacancy.
Board chair Susan Toth, one of just two racialized board members, said a letter will also be sent to city officials to discuss the appointment process and ensure appointments are made in an open and transparent way with a focus on inclusion and diversity.
The seven-member police board is made up the mayor, three city appointees and three provincial appointees.
Branscombe was the lone board member at Thursday’s meeting to oppose the motion to send the letters to the city and the province.
“The presumption that the process isn’t fair and open is a bit disturbing to me and, as the newest member, I think they did a very good job with the appointees that are here,” she said.
“I don’t mind having a discussion about the process, but the addition of telling them they aren’t doing it properly, I don’t support that.”
The motion passed with a 4-1 vote. Two board members, London Mayor Ed Holder and Megan Walker, did not attend the meeting.
