Title
DEPUTATIONS REGARDING MOTION 21-G-005 CONCERNING THE 2021 BUSINESS PLAN - BARRIE POLICE SERVICES BOARD
The following Deputations were provided concerning motion 21-G-005 concerning the 2021 Business Plan - Barrie Police Services (BPS) Board:
1. Michael Speers provided his concerns associated to the 2021 BPS Board Budget request. He advised that in his opinion policing has failed society, particularly black and indigenous people. Mr. Speers noted that he feels that most calls received by the BPS are non-criminal and non-emergency, that changes need to be made to completely rethink policing, that they are coming up short when it comes to creating this new vision and the City can do better now by defunding the police. He discussed the valuable initiatives and the good that will come from the Anti-Racism Task Force. Mr. Speers provided examples of people wanting to see change noting that last summer's gatherings of hundreds of people in the streets of Barrie demanding action with not just one, but two massive rallies and the community comments to reduce the police budget found in the City's online Budget Allocator tool. He commented that the exact opposite of what the community is calling for and the status quo has failed, and Council is getting exactly what they are wanting but not the residents.
Mr. Speers provided his opinion related to the current policing system that he felt is better designed to create crime and label people are criminals; is rooted in racism and settler colonialism; has an elevation of one class over communities; protects property, not people; is not a true system of justice as a true system of justice would be doing the exact opposite; and is over policed and there is over incarceration that make communities less safe and taking resources away from programs and services that prevent crime.
Mr. Speers provided his suggestions for a better system that included Council to begin creating a shift immediately by defunding the ...
Click here for full text