28 years

That's how long Sylvie Hauth, police chief of Thunder Bay, has been in the job.  Maybe that's the problem in the face of scathing reports about the mismanagement of the force under her watch.  Twenty eight years is a long time in which to slump into complacency and comfort with the status quo.

As I always do to figure out an agenda, I looked her up and saw she has a masters in applied criminology from Ottawa U and the Rotman School of Management, with certification in municipal management and policing.  So, her education seems fine and in line with the job.  Nevertheless, as issues keep cropping up, she continues to insist that, "All of us at the service take our work very seriously and we put our best foot forward every day to ensure that our community is safe."

Well, it's not working very well, according to two reports.  One, entitled The Broken Trust, was suspiciously chaired by then-senator Murray Sinclair, who finds mistreatment of natives under every rock and in every corner.  Sinclair, I posit, is hardly an independent voice when it comes to native issues.  Blaming racism for everything that happens is his wont.  

Currently, the Ministry of the Attorney General is reviewing 25 cases where deficient police work has been flagged.  Yep, the natives are restless in Thunder Bay, although I don't think you can blame police for the death of a two-month-old baby found with cocaine in his system.  That's beyond tragic, but somehow it's still the police who are at fault for that one.  Huh!?

Thunder Bay Police Services Board member and former chair, Georjann Morriseau, a native member who currently has nine human rights complaints lodged against the board, said she absolutely believes there needs to be a change in leadership at the Thunder Bay Police Service and that her experiences of what she says has been harassment and discrimination by the board and senior leadership is not unique to her alone.

“My story today, is not just about me,” Morriseau said. “It’s to demonstrate and show the public that this is what the leadership did to me and I am on the board. My story reflects that of many others on the service and they can’t speak out.”

Morriseau and attorney Chantelle Bryson held a virtual news conference on Thursday to address the issues raised in Morriseau’s complaints to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario alleging harassment and discrimination on the part of senior leadership at the Police Service and board, as well as a letter she issued this week saying the Thunder Bay Police Service is on the brink of collapse. 

Thunder Bay Police Board Chair Kirsten Oliver begs to differ with Morriseau and claims the board is united -- except for Morriseau -- and far from "collapse".

So, there you have it.  Natives versus non-natives.  Business as usual.