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Police board considers new members for added diversity

The South Simcoe Police Services Board is in “wait-and-see mode” for how the Safer Ontario Act could affect its membership makeup
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File photo

In an attempt to reflect the diverse populations of Bradford West Gwillimbury and Innisfil, the South Simcoe Police Services Board is potentially considering adding two new members.

The idea was brought up at its meeting Monday evening, but the board put it on hold until the Safer Ontario Act is officially OK’d by the provincial government, and then it will revisit the idea.

“Our board, and probably every board in Ontario, is in wait-and-see mode,” said South Simcoe Police Chief Andrew Fletcher.

Sharon Villani, a provincial appointee on the board, suggested adding new members to create a more diverse makeup that reflects the local communities.

Along with Villani, the five-member board currently includes chair Rod Hicks (provincial appointee), vice chair Licinio Miguelo (municipal appointee), BWG Mayor Rob Keffer, and former Innisfil Mayor Gord Wauchope.

However, Monday’s meeting was the last one for Wauchope, as he has retired from politics, and one of the board seats is reserved for Innisfil’s mayor.

Under the last legislation, communities of more than 25,000 people should have five members on their police services boards. South Simcoe police represents about 75,000 people between BWG and Innisfil.

Seven-member boards were only approved for communities of more than 300,000 people.

However, the Safer Ontario Act, which has received royal assent, makes no reference to population in terms of how many people can be on a police services board, said Fletcher.

The board will keep an eye on the act to see whether it changes before approaching local municipal councils about requesting support to add new members, he said.

“(We will see) if that section of that act even gets approval,” he said.



Jenni Dunning

About the Author: Jenni Dunning

Jenni Dunning is a community editor and reporter who covers news in the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury.
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