Advocacy & Issues

The PAO is involved in a variety of activities at the provincial level on behalf of our front-line police and civilian members. Through lobbying and representation with government principals and policing stakeholders, the PAO has made significant advances on a number of critical pieces of legislation which impact on our membership and the communities that they serve:

• Bill 100, Protecting What Matters Most Act (Budget Measures), 2019 – Specifically, Schedule 52 PTSD Awareness Day Act, 2019
• Bill 68, Comprehensive Ontario Police Services Act, 2019
• Bill 175, Safer Ontario Act, 2018
• Bill 163, Supporting Ontario’s First Responders Act (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), 2016
• Bill 206, Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System Act, 2006
• Street Checks Regulation, within the Collection of Identifying Information in Certain Circumstances – Prohibition and Duties section of the current Police Services Act, 1990
• Naloxone Administration, within the Conduct and Duties of Police Officers Respecting Investigations by the Special Investigations Unit section of the current Police Services Act, 1990

Throughout our discussions with the current and former provincial governments, the PAO has maintained a strong stand about the fact that Ontario’s sworn and civilian police personnel require the appropriate tools and adequate funding to keep our communities safe, and we have remained clear that we support effective oversight, accountability, and transparency to build the public’s trust in our profession.

As the provincial spokesperson for Ontario’s rank and file sworn and civilian police personnel, the PAO represents our members on a variety of government committees dealing with policing issues, including:

• Ontario Police Health and Safety Committee
• Ontario Police Arbitration Commission
• Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement Board (OMERS)
• Equipment Advisory Committee
• Ontario Section 21 Health and Safety Committee
• Policing Standards Advisory Committee