The Truth and Reconciliation Action Team of the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good has been advocating for the hiring of an Indigenous Liaison Officer in each of the eight Calgary Police Service (CPS) districts.
Indigenous Liaison Officers are needed to improve the relationship between the CPS and the Indigenous community within Calgary. Building this relationship will help to address the over-representation of Indigenous people in the city’s policing system. CPS has included new Indigenous Liaison Officers in their budget request which will be discussed at City Council this week and voted on by November 26.
The CPS have told us, if the budget is approved, they will proceed to hire the Indigenous Liaison Officers. In addition, the CPS is proposing a plan to create an independent Indigenous Relations Unit which would house the Indigenous Liaison Officers as well as implement other new and much needed Indigenous-focused initiatives. They have told us, if the budget is approved, they will establish this Unit by Spring 2022.
The CACG supports the establishment of an Indigenous Relations Unit because it is the right thing to do and is consistent with Call to Justice #9.4 of the National Enquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. See details on the Calls to Justice [Word Document].
Please contact your city councillor before Friday November 26 and ask them to support the CPS budget so that these Indigenous Liaison Officers can be hired and the Indigenous Relations Unit be established by Spring 2022. Below is a sample message that you can send to your councillor.
Click on this link to Find your Councillor for their contact information. If you already know who your councillor is, here is their email:
| Official's Name | ||
| Mayor | Dr. Jyoti Gondek | |
| Ward 1 | Sonya Sharp | |
| Ward 2 | Jennifer Wyness | |
| Ward 3 | Jasmine Mian | |
| Ward 4 | Sean Chu | |
| Ward 5 | Raj Dhaliwal | |
| Ward 6 | Richard Pootmans | |
| Ward 7 | Terry Wong | |
| Ward 8 | Courtney Walcott | |
| Ward 9 | Gian Carlo-Carra | |
| Ward 10 | Andre Chabot | |
| Ward 11 | Kourtney Penner | |
| Ward 12 | Evan Spencer | |
| Ward 13 | Dan McLean | |
| Ward 14 | Peter Demong |
A draft message is included below:
Dear Councillor,
The City of Calgary needs to do a better job in dealing with the over-representation of Indigenous people in our policing system. A proven way to do this is to build relationships with the Indigenous community by hiring an Indigenous Liaison Officers in each of the eight Calgary Police Service (CPS) districts. The current CPS budget proposal requests funding for such positions.
In addition, the CPS is proposing the establishment of an independent Indigenous Relations Unit which would house these Indigenous Liaison Officers as well as implement other new and much needed Indigenous-focused initiatives.
Such a unit was recommended for all Canadian cities in Call to Justice #9.4 of the National Enquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two Spirit. The CPS has told the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good that if the budget is approved, they will establish the Unit and hire the Indigenous Liaison Officers by Spring 2022.
I am urging you to approve the budget proposed by the CPS so that these much needed Indigenous Liaison Officers can be hired and an Indigenous Relations Unit be established by Spring 2022.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Postal Code]
