The committee continued its study of Indigenous policing and public safety, hearing from representatives of the Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario (IPCO), the Manitoba Métis Federation, the Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police Service, and the Gi-Ganawenima'Anaanig Implementation Committee.
Chief Jeff Skye of the Anishinabek Police Service described chronic underfunding under the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program (FNIPP), which he called a "phantom policy" that forces First Nations to operate with inadequate resources, including a lack of lockers, holding cells made of drywall, and no capacity to address the drug and gang crisis killing young people. He asked the committee to urge Public Safety Canada to provide sustainable funding, noting that his service's funding expires March 31, 2026, with no carry-over.
Kai Liu, retired chief of Treaty Three Police Service, highlighted court rulings finding Canada's FNIPP discriminatory, including a 2024 Supreme Court decision that described negotiations as having "a knife to the throat." He noted that IPCO won emergency Federal Court relief in 2023 after three police services had their funding cut off, but Canada continues to delay IPCO's broader human rights complaint, and he called for resolution through honourable engagement rather than further litigation.
Chief James Killeen of UCCM Anishnaabe Police Service argued that First Nations policing should no longer be called a "program," as that implies it is temporary, and he criticized Canada's plan to change terms in January 2026 to block legal advice funding and carry-over of unspent funds—two conditions that kept his service alive when funding was cut in 2023. He asked the committee to demand answers from Public Safety Canada, noting that Ontario's Community Safety and Policing Act allows First Nations to opt into adequate policing, while the federal approach does not.
Chief Darren Montour of Six Nations Police Service emphasized that First Nations policing is not recognized as an essential service, leading to chronic underfunding, recruitment challenges, and mental health impacts on officers. He described an influx of organized crime, including gangs from the GTA and smuggled handguns, and called for bail reform, arguing that Bill C-14 does not go far enough because repeat violent offenders are repeatedly released, citing the murder of Constable Greg Pierzchala as an example.
David Chartrand, President of the Manitoba Métis Federation, stated that Métis communities are excluded from Canada's Indigenous policing strategy, with no dedicated funding or data collection, leaving villages without any police presence and forcing reliance on RCMP detachments that serve 10 communities from 45 miles away. He recommended a Red River Métis-specific policing plan with long-term, stable funding, and he noted that the MMF has put up its own $1 million reward for missing Indigenous women, but meaningful change requires distinct, data-driven approaches.
Chief Deborah Doss-Cody of Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police Service said that not being deemed an essential service creates doubt and harms recruitment and retention, especially as municipal forces offer signing bonuses of up to $25,000 while her 14 officers are constantly on call with high overtime and low morale. She noted that the funding model is not based on population or crime statistics, and she called for a transparent methodology, adding that an MOU with the RCMP for backup is still in progress.
Sandra DeLaronde, Project Lead for the Gi-Ganawenima'Anaanig Implementation Committee, began her presentation but was cut short due to technical issues; her testimony was not completed.
The committee also heard from members on procedural matters, including a brief suspension to address IT issues, but no motions or votes were recorded.
AI-generated summary — may contain errors; verify against the official evidence.