Police Departments Across Ontario Are Issuing Statements Rejecting Use of Doug Ford’s Controversial New Police Powers

Local police departments across Canada’s biggest province are issuing stunning public statements rejecting the use of heavy-handed police powers announced by Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Friday afternoon.

The unprecedented turn of events follows Ford’s decision to grant police blanket powers to arbitrarily stop and interrogate anyone found outside their home at any time of day in an effort to enforce public health regulations.

Ford has also ignored calls from health experts to bring in less draconian measures, including paid sick days and prioritizing support for essential workers, to control the spread instead.

Civil liberties groups say the new powers are “unconstitutional” and predict it will only lead to a “rash of racial profiling and overboard police powers.”

In 2017, Ontario banned the practice of carding, situations where police collected personal information from individuals — particularly racialized individuals — during random street checks. The new powers Ford announced go even further than the old rules, allowing police to arbitrarily interrogate anyone they find outside their home at any time of day.

Here is a running list of public statements from local police departments rejecting use of Ford’s newly announced police powers:

Toronto Police

“The Toronto Police Service will continue to engage, educate and enforce, but we will not be doing random stops of people or cars.”

New emergency orders announced yesterday to help limit the spread of Covid-19 are now in effect. The Toronto Police Service will continue to engage, educate and enforce, but we will not be doing random stops of people or cars. 1/2

— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) April 17, 2021

Ottawa Police

“Under the updated orders, police have the authority to stop and make inquiries of individuals who are out in public spaces and not at their home address (pedestrians, motorists, occupants of vehicles, etc.) to assess if the person is in compliance with the Stay-at-Home order.  This authority requires such individuals to provide the officer(s) with their home address and purpose for leaving their home.

The OPS will not be conducting random stops. We will be taking a deliberate and careful approach that emphasizes equity, legality, and efficacy in the application of these authorities with the specific and exclusive purpose to support public health measures.”

New Provincial Enforcement Measures to Support Public Health Orders https://t.co/9smhW6swCS#ottnews

— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) April 17, 2021

Hamilton Police

“We want to assure Hamilton, Ontario citizens that members will NOT be conducting arbitrary vehicle and person stops for the sole purpose of enforcing the Stay-at-Home order.”

Hamilton Police remain committed to providing the highest quality policing services. We want to assure #HamOnt citizens that members will NOT be conducting arbitrary vehicle and person stops for the sole purpose of enforcing the Stay-at-Home order. https://t.co/ROkcmkCAsS

— Hamilton Police (@HamiltonPolice) April 17, 2021

London Police

“Our plan is to continue to engage, explain, educate and enforce in a fair and unbiased manner. We will not be randomly stopping people.”

Our plan is to continue to engage, explain, educate & enforce in a fair & unbiased manner. We will not be randomly stopping people. Our goal is to put an end to COVID-19 & we ask for the community’s support. We will release a fuller statement tomorrow when details known. 2/2

— Steve Williams (@S_Williams001) April 17, 2021

Waterloo Police

“We will not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops.”

As we review the new #COVID19 provincial regulations announced today, please note that we will continue to focus on the 4 Es when it comes to enforcement.

We will not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops.

For more information, visit: https://t.co/nbwldme20S pic.twitter.com/yJaAtZzeGE

— Waterloo Regional Police (@WRPSToday) April 16, 2021

Kingston Police

“Members of the Kingston Police will not be conducting random vehicle or pedestrian stops.”

Members of the Kingston Police will not be conducting random vehicle or pedestrian stops. We will continue engaging with members of the public and responding to calls for service to keep our community safe, doing so in a fair and equitable manner.
Release: https://t.co/oEjpRAO2id pic.twitter.com/7hwEzWlCux

— Kingston Police (@KingstonPolice) April 17, 2021

Peel Region Police

“We will not conduct random stops of vehicles or people, to determine their reasons for being away from their homes.”

I echo the sentiment of police leaders across the Province.@PeelPolice will continue our focus on Engage, Explain, Educate & as a last resort, Enforce the EMCPA.

We will not conduct random stops of vehicles or people, to determine their reasons for being away from their homes. https://t.co/lkiVGBQ0KB pic.twitter.com/GyHPIGY8qe

— Chief Nishan Duraiappah (@ChiefNish) April 17, 2021

Windsor Police

“Officers will not be randomly stopping people or vehicles.”

2/2 Officers will not be randomly stopping people or vehicles. We all need to do our part for the health and safety of our community. Everyone has a role and a responsibility to keep our City safe. Stay home and do not gather with people outside your household.

— Windsor Police (@WindsorPolice) April 17, 2021

Thunder Bay Police

“Members of the Thunder Bay Police Service will not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops.”

To answer what appears to be the most common question from our Twitter followers: “Members of the Thunder Bay Police Service will not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops.”

— Thunder Bay Police (@tbpsmedia) April 17, 2021

Halton Police

“We will not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops.”

We are reviewing the new COVID-19 provincial regulations announced yesterday.

We remain committed to the 4 Es of enforcement:

Engage – Explain – Educate – Enforce

We will not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops. pic.twitter.com/m1bmx4em6d

— Halton Police (@HaltonPolice) April 17, 2021

Guelph Police

“Our Guelph Police members will not be doing random stops of people or vehicles.”

Our @GuelphPolice members will not be doing random stops of people or vehicles. We will continue to work closely with our @cityofguelph and @WDGPublicHealth partners to support our community. https://t.co/yInVP5rpDj

— Gord Cobey (@ChiefCobey) April 17, 2021

Niagara Police

“We will not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops.”

The Niagara Regional Police Service is continuing to review the new provincial #COVID19 regulations to ensure appropriate enforcement.

We will not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops.https://t.co/QsZZKOEWH1 pic.twitter.com/jak9ectWce

— NRPS (@NiagRegPolice) April 17, 2021

Barrie Police

“Our officers will not be conducting ‘spot checks’ on vehicles or individuals.”

The #BarriePolice Service recognizes that our province is facing challenging times in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to focus on the 4 E’s – engage, explain, educate and enforce. Our officers will not be conducting ‘spot checks’ on vehicles or individuals. pic.twitter.com/JgWsdTPm4e

— Barrie Police (@BarriePolice) April 17, 2021

Peterborough Police

“Peterborough Police will continue to be complaints-driven in our response to the increased provincial measures, that means  we will not be randomly stopping people.”

We are reviewing the new provincial #COVID19 regulations.

Peterborough Police will continue to be complaints-driven in our response to the increased provincial measures, that means we will not be randomly stopping people.https://t.co/PXVmxwFDuh pic.twitter.com/Io1BJnjvxm

— Peterborough Police (@PtboPolice) April 17, 2021

Sault Ste. Marie Police

“We will not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops for the sole purpose of ensuring EMCPA compliance.”

We will not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops for the sole purpose of ensuring EMCPA compliance. We will continue to educate the community and use discretion in all cases. @CitySSM @PrinceTownship stay safe, stay healthy.

For more info https://t.co/c8dDBHDrad

— Sault Ste. Marie Police Service (@SaultPolice) April 17, 2021

North Bay Police

“As we review the new provincial regulations, please note that North By Police will NOT be conducting random vehicle or individual stops.”

The announcement of new #COVID19 provincial enforcement measures have generated many questions in our community.

As we review the new provincial regulations, please note that #NorthBay Police will NOT be conducting random vehicle or individual stops.

— North Bay Police (@NorthBayPolice) April 17, 2021

Sudbury Police

“With these new restrictions, the Government also enhanced law enforcement powers when it comes to enforcement in particular the authority to require any individual to provide their home address and purpose for not being at their residence, as well as, the authority to stop vehicles to inquire about an individual’s reasons for leaving their home.

Upon reviewing the new authority given to Police Services, it is our decision to maintain our current proactive and reactive complaint driven education and enforcement model … We will not be conducting random person or vehicle stops for the sole purpose of determining where you are going or why you are out of your residence.”

A Message to Our Community – Stay-at-Home Order Authorities. We thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation throughout the pandemic. We will continue to rely on the 4E’s of Engage, Explain, Educate and where appropriate Enforce. Read more https://t.co/BkYjJrTZBD pic.twitter.com/kZ69y3wXP2

— Sudbury Police (@SudburyPolice) April 17, 2021

South Simcoe Police

“We will continue to use discretion in our day to day interactions with the public and will not be conducting random vehicle or person stops.”

The South Simcoe Police Service is reviewing the new #COVIID19 regulations. We will continue to use discretion in our day to day interactions with the public and will not be conducting random vehicle or person stops.
Message from Chief Fletcher:https://t.co/1DwznSJL3q pic.twitter.com/pP8OeW6aUE

— South Simcoe Police (@SouthSimcoePS) April 17, 2021

Kawartha Lakes Police

“The new emergency measures include temporary authorities for police to stop individuals to determine if they are in compliance with the Provincial stay-at-home order. We are still reviewing the new legislation, but our enforcement response will remain evidence driven and Kawartha Lakes Police officers will not be arbitrarily stopping pedestrians or motorists.”

City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service Response to New COVID-19 Regulations
Read release:https://t.co/Sz41X38NxZ pic.twitter.com/mJmonbqs8T

— KawarthaLakes Police (@klpsmedia) April 17, 2021

Cornwall Police

“Members of the CPS will not be conducting random pedestrian or vehicle stops.”

#383 – The CPS has issued a news release surrounding the new COVID-19 restrictions. Please click here to read more: https://t.co/3A7p10sf7i pic.twitter.com/Swr3qTVkn1

— Cornwall Police Service (@cwlpolice) April 17, 2021

St. Thomas Police

“As a service we will continue to engage, explain, educate and enforce in a fair and unbiased manner. We will not be randomly stopping people. We will continue to police with the same common sense approach we have used since the beginning of the pandemic.”

Update on Emergency Order and Civil Protection Act: https://t.co/qAf0UDx65w pic.twitter.com/SirMtBYIhT

— St. Thomas Police (@STPSmedia) April 17, 2021

Stratford Police

“We will not be conducting random stops on vehicles, or pedestrians.”

With the enhanced #COVID19 regulations announced yesterday, the #SPS will continue to focus on our approach of Education first, with Enforcement used as a last resort.

We will not be conducting random stops on vehicles, or pedestrians.

More info to be released on Monday.

— Stratford Police Service (@SPSmediaoffice) April 17, 2021

Durham Police

“In regards to the new provincial regulations, we will continue to engage our community, educate when appropriate & enforce when necessary. At this time, this does not include randomly stopping vehicles in order to enforce the stay-at-home orders. This also includes pedestrians.”

This also includes pedestrians. We are preparing a formal media statement to be released and it will provide further clarification.

— Durham Regional Police (@DRPS) April 17, 2021