Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says he is now getting involved in discussions between the government and three Indigenous police services in Northern Ontario, as he is not satisfied with the state of negotiations.
“I believe that a number of their concerns in fact have merit, which is why I’ve now become directly engaged with the community and I’ve instructed my department to find solutions quickly so that we can resolve any ongoing issues with regards to the flow of monies.”
Mendicino has asked for Treaty Three Police, UCCM Anishnaabe Police Service and Anishinabek Police Service to receive funding for the next 90 days.
All three services have been without funding since March 31st and in a bombshell statement yesterday it was revealed Treaty Three Police was now operating on a line of credit.
Should all three services close it would result in 30 thousand residents on 45 First Nations being without police services.
States of emergency have been declared by both Grand Council Treaty Three and the Anishinabek Nation as a result of the situation.