news / events

FROM: General Headquarters                                                                          DATE: July 31, 2024

(KENORA) – Treaty Three Police Service (T3PS) along with the Treaty Three Police Services Board (T3PSB) acknowledges the recent concerns raised by Wabaseemoong and Grassy Narrows First Nations regarding the services provided by the Treaty Three Police Service (T3PS). We take these concerns very seriously and are committed to addressing them promptly and effectively.

Understanding the Situation

In response to notifications from these communities, T3PS Command and Board Executive met on July 30th to discuss strategies and draft internal messaging.

The dissatisfaction expressed by Wabaseemoong and Grassy Narrows highlights the need for immediate attention and action. Our services have been impacted by a lack of resources provided by the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program, which is currently the subject of a human rights complaint. Despite these challenges, we remain dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of service for our communities.

Our Commitment to Community and Members

Chief of Police Cheryl Gervais stated, “We deeply respect the communities we serve and the officers who serve them. Our commitment is to develop sustainable solutions that prioritize public safety while ensuring the well-being, safety, and security of our Service members. We are incredibly proud of the dedication shown by our officers and staff, and we are focused on achieving equitable funding to better support our operations.”

Treaty Three Police Services Board President Christine Jourdain echoed this sentiment, saying, “We understand the concerns of the communities and are actively working to address them. Our priority is to ensure that T3PS has the resources and support it needs to effectively serve and protect our communities. We are committed to transparency and collaboration as we work through these challenges.”

Immediate Actions

To address the immediate concerns, we are taking the following steps:

• Community Engagement: We will continue to organize one-on-one sessions with community leaders to listen to their concerns and collaborate on solutions. Community input is crucial as we work together to enhance the effectiveness of our services.
• Transparency: We are committed to providing regular updates to the communities and our members on the steps we are taking to improve services and address concerns. Open communication is key to building trust and ensuring accountability.
• Resource Advocacy: We are actively working to secure additional resources to enhance our service delivery. This includes ongoing efforts to achieve equitable funding through the Treaty Three Police Services Board and Leadership Team.
• Strategic Planning with PwC: We have partnered with PwC to undergo a comprehensive current state assessment. This includes engaging directly with community members to gather feedback on our service delivery and future direction. This work will also support community decision-making regarding opting into the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA), including considerations of stable and consistent funding for the police service in the future.

Moving Forward

We understand that this is a challenging time, but it is also an opportunity to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to our communities and to improve our services. We appreciate the continued dedication and hard work of our officers and staff.

Chief Gervais added, “Our focus is on making a positive impact and ensuring that the communities we serve receive the high-quality services they deserve. We are committed to continuous improvement and will keep listening to the voices of our communities and our team members.”

President Jourdain concluded, “This is a time for reflection and action. We are determined to build a safer, more inclusive, and responsive policing service that meets the needs of the Treaty #3 Nation.”

T3PS and the T3PSB extends our appreciation to community leaders who have reached out with their continued support and cooperation as we work towards a safer, more inclusive, and responsive policing service.

Treaty Three Police Service is a self-administered Policing entity under the First Nations Policing Program in Canada and is responsible for full policing duties in 23 First Nation Communities in the Treaty #3 territory.

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