Some NS municipalities set up police signs after a provincial reminder, others say no

Some municipalities in Nova Scotia are forming police boards at the behest of the provincial justice minister, but others say they will not do so unless “ordered to do so”.

The Region of Queens has moved on to establish a seven-member RCMP advisory council, after years of using their elected council to receive updates from the Mounties.

“We’ve never had one, and we should have one,” Mayor Darlene Norman said Thursday.

According to the Provincial Police Act, all municipalities must have either a board of police commissioners if they use a municipal force, or an advisory board if they use RCMP.

Advisory boards have less direct powers than committees because RCMP officers ultimately report to Ottawa. But the Police Act allows advisory boards to weigh in on police priorities, ensure community needs and values ​​are reflected in the service, and review complaints with the chief officer for an area.

The Mass Casualty Commission’s final report said it is important to revitalize these boards by giving them enough money to function properly and by educating their members and police contacts to understand their responsibilities.

Norman said they recently decided on the three Queens councilors who will sit on the police council, and Acadia First Nation’s Andrew Francis will also hold one of the three civilian seats.

Two seats to fill

Queens is now recruiting for the other two community members, who will represent the northern and southern parts of the county. The county must also nominate another member of the community, but there have been long-standing problems with boards having to wait months or years for the seat.

“We don’t wish [for] members of the community who have a complaint about the RCMP, who are chronic senders of letters of complaint about the RCMP. And on the other hand, we also don’t want people who think everything is rosy and good,” said Norman.

In May, Attorney General Brad Johns sent letters to municipalities “reminding them of their obligation under the police law,” a county spokesman said Thursday.

But Guysborough District Director Vernon Pitts said the council has recently discussed the issue – and decided to set up a council committee to oversee the RCMP.

“We have informed the minister that this is the way we are doing it. It has worked so far. There is nothing wrong with it and we have no intention of fixing it unless we are instructed to do so,” Pitts said Thursday.

When asked how this Guysborough scheme fits in with the Police Act’s requirement that members of the community have a say in policing, Pitts said: “There are eight of them around the table. They’re called councillors.”

Pitts said when residents bring issues to his or other council members’ attention, they call the local detachment to see if it’s resolved.

CBC asked the Justice Department on Thursday about Guysborough’s decision and whether the county is considering further enforcement action.

Provincial spokesperson Deborah Bayer said in an email that “our position has not changed” since the May letters.

CAO for the City of Lunenburg Jamie Doyle said they are considering a joint RCMP board with the neighboring district of Lunenburg as they share the same officers.