Police Services Amendment Act, 2022, S.O. 2022, c. 15 - Bill 78

 

chapter 15

An Act to amend the Police Services Act

Assented to April 28, 2022

Preamble

The Queen’s Commission is an award of recognition granted to police officers for exemplary performance of their duties. Under existing legislation, only police officers serving with the Ontario Provincial Police qualify for the Queen’s Commission.

The Police Services Amendment Act, 2022 will provide that the Queen’s Commission may be granted to exceptional municipal police officers and First Nations Constables, thereby honouring those officers who demonstrate leadership consistent with seeking justice, applying the law, respecting human dignity, and upholding the democratic principles which sustain our society.

Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1 The Police Services Act is amended by adding the following section:

Commissioned municipal police officers

45.1 The Lieutenant Governor in Council may authorize the issue of a commission under the Great Seal to a municipal police officer who has achieved a prescribed rank.

2 Section 54 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsections:

Commissioned First Nations Constable officers

(9) Subject to subsection (10), the Lieutenant Governor in Council may authorize the issue of a commission under the Great Seal to a First Nations Constable who has achieved a prescribed rank.

Consultation

(10) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may not authorize the issue of a commission under the Great Seal to a First Nations Constable whose specified duties relate to a reserve without first consulting with the police governing authority or band council that approved the Constable’s appointment.

Commencement

3 This Act comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.

Short title

4 The short title of this Act is the Police Services Amendment Act, 2022.