Session 2: Safer Communities Action Plan – Partnership in Response

Overview presentation by Darrion Campbell, Executive Director, Policing and Security Branch, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

Panelists:

Tricia Poilievre, Executive Director, Complex Care Housing & Adult Mental Health, Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions
Blair Spencer, Director, Repeat Violent Offending Intervention Initiative, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
Ali Bajwa, Senior Policy Analyst, Policing and Security Branch, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
Superintendent Shawna Baher, RCMP, M.O.M., Officer in Charge, Vernon/North Okanagan Detachment

Panel discussion facilitated by Brian Sims, Executive Director, Policing and Security Branch, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

Summary

In November 2022, Government announced the Safer Communities Action Plan (SCAP) to strengthen enforcement to keep those who commit repeat violent offences off our streets, as well as to strengthen services to build safe, healthy communities for everyone. The SCAP initiatives respond to a rise in repeat violent offending linked to unintended impacts of federal law changes and subsequent Supreme Court decisions, and better deal with mental-health and substance use challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the toxic drug crisis. SCAP initiatives work to make communities safer under two tracks: enforcement, and intervention services. Each initiative is structured to improve co-ordination and partnership between law enforcement, community service organizations, justice system actors, health providers and people who are experiencing substance and mental-health challenges in a collaborative, coordinated approach.

This session will focus on discussing opportunities and challenges, highlighting several of the key initiatives from both enforcement and intervention streams.

The Justice Summit maintains the principles of non-partisanship, non-attribution, and respect for organizational and statutory independence. Therefore, participant contributions will not be attributed to specific individuals or organizations. Moreover, while the 2023 Justice Summit will be convened through a virtual format, the recording of any sessions by participants is strictly prohibited. We are grateful for the participation of members of the judiciary in the Justice Summits. We trust, consistent with previous years, that everyone will respect that because of the courts’ independent role, judges and judicial staff participate as observers and will not be commenting on, endorsing or suggesting policy choices, recommendations or other substantive matters.