Len Faul wrote this wonderful piece on policing in Ontario. It provides a clear understanding of how criminal laws, legislation, and by-laws are meant to be enforced. Active duty officers must remember their duties and should give this a thorough read. For the public, this will help you better understand your rights when interacting with an officer in Ontario.
#RememberYourOath #PoliceOnGuard
Curfews. For police officers, this word has typically only been seen on the bail papers of criminals released from custody, usually to protect law-abiding citizens from their crimes.
Curfews for everyday Canadians is something most officers would never dream of coming to a town or city near them, but here we are.
Police are being asked to balance the Reopening Ontario Act, the Human Rights Code, and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that we have sworn to uphold, this includes Section 7 of the Charter – Life, liberty and security of the person. Section 7 states:
“Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice”.
Can the government justify laws that limit our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms? The short answer is yes. This is generally known as the reasonable limits clause. However, such limits must be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.
As active and retired members of various police services across this great country, we recognize our sworn oath to uphold the Constitution of Canada, including the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and we intend on upholding that oath in everything that we do.
We have a responsibility to the people of this country who are depending on us to stand up for those guaranteed rights and freedoms and that responsibility is not taken lightly. We will not back down, that we can promise you.
We will today, and the days to come, continue to Stand on Guard for Thee.
#RememberYourOath