The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service narrowly averted a strike this week, inking a tentative contract that could serve as a precursor to all First Nations police officers being added to the soon-to-be-updated, 25-year-old Ontario Police Services Act.

"We just wanted equalization with all the other police services," Jason Storkson, president of the local union chapter, told QP Briefing Friday. "I feel we got the best deal that we could and it has made significant meaningful steps – first steps – toward achieving what it ultimately is that we want – fair and equitable treatment in comparison to other services."

NAPS officers have complained for years that First Nations officers are forced to work in unsafe conditions and patrol large territories alone and without proper equipment because of a lack of resources.

Storkson would not share details of the contract before officers see it for themselves, which won't happen until Monday. However, he said, "all of the things that we were looking at were addressed in a meaningful fashion. It's not exactly what we wanted but its definitely good first steps."

One sure thing is that the tentative agreement expires March 31, 2018, which happens to coincide with the end of Ontario's next fiscal cycle. Storkson suggested the date was strategically plucked.

"That’s what were hoping and that’s kind of why we tied the end date of this agreement to that," he said. "The feeling is that the (Police Services Act) will be opened up and there should be some movement with us into the legislation. So that’s why we left the end date for 2018."

Reached mere hours before Thursday's midnight strike deadline, the deal must now be ratified by officers. But because NAPS covers such large swaths of the province, Storkson said the ratification process would take a few weeks. Anchored in Thunder Bay, NAPS polices 35 communities across Nishnawbe-Aski territory, which covers nearly two-thirds of the province, making the 130-plus officers the largest First Nations police service in the country.

Speaking to reporters at Queen's Park Thursday (before the deal was reached), Community Safety Minister David Orazietti said he was optimistic that the union's concerns would be addressed, but that the government was not directly involved at the bargaining table.

Earlier this summer, the Community Safety Minister's office said meetings with First Nations and the federal government (jointly responsible for funding aboriginal policing) could create a framework to bring First Nations police under the same laws that govern every other cop in Ontario.

The government is in the middle of rewriting the 25-year-old Police Services Act through its Strategy for a Safer Ontario.

Orazietti said the government is now ready to move ahead on those discussions.

"We have been making progress on the legislative framework and our government's commitment that we will be opening the Police Services Act moving forward, that would allow an opportunity, and create an opportunity, for First Nations policing to be a part of that," he said.

As for when that might happen, Orazietti couldn't say.

"I can't give you a definite time as to when we are going to open the Police Services Act. It is unlikely that it will happen before the end of this year, although I wouldn't rule that out. If it's possible for us to do that, we will, but it's more likely in the spring session. But, fair to say, certainly in one of the two sessions."

Alvin Fiddler, Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation, lauded NAPS negotiators in a statement, and added that he continues to negotiate for a larger new policing agreement with Ottawa and Ontario.

"This (tentative agreement) will come as a relief to the leaders of NAN First Nations policed by NAPS, who have been justifiably fearful of the consequences of a labour action, the safety of their members and the administration of justice in their communities," Fiddler said. "First Nations served by NAPS deserve the same levels of policing as any community across the country and we will continue to negotiate for a new tripartite policing agreement with the federal and provincial governments that meets the needs of our officers and ensures the safety of our communities."

During rocky NAPS negotiations this summer, Fiddler had threatened to disband the police force should the province and feds not live up to his standard for funding. The current model under the First Nations Policing Program (FNPP) pulls 52 per cent of its cash from Ottawa and 48 per cent from Ontario.

For fiscal 2015-16, Ontario provided more than $41 million to FNPP and through provincial grants It committed an additional $4 million annually to support 40 First Nations constables after the previous Stephen Harper regime did not renew part of Ottawa's recruitment funding program, according to the province.

As part of the Ontario Provincial Police mandate, provincial officers also provide specialized resources to NAPS officers when needed.

To contact the reporter on this story:
snanji@qpbriefing.com
416-212-5789

Tentative deal could lead to provincial framework for all First Nations police officers

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