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Ontario’s new Inspector General of Policing begins mandate

Apr. 2, 2024, Toronto, Ont. – With Ontario’s new policing legislation, the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 (CSPA) now in effect, Inspector General of Policing, Ryan Teschner, begins his legislative mandate to provide independent compliance oversight and drive improved performance in Ontario policing and police governance.

Inspector General Teschner’s new oversight role is the first of its kind in Canada and is supported by the Inspectorate of Policing, a new, modern oversight organization of professionals who will conduct inspections, analyze data and liaise with police services and boards across the province. The Inspectorate supports the Inspector General in delivering on his important mandate and serves the public interest by ensuring police services and boards comply with Ontario’s policing requirements while being responsive to the diverse communities they serve.

“Communities across Ontario can and should expect that our policing organizations are delivering high-quality services in compliance with provincial standards, all with the common objective of making everyone safer,” said Inspector General Teschner. “I am focused on furthering the public interest by improving performance in policing and police governance, ultimately to enhance confidence in Ontario’s policing system.”

“As police leaders committed to the safety and well-being of our communities, we welcome the Inspector General’s role in fostering collaboration among police services, promoting continuous improvement in our profession, and ensuring policing standards are upheld to the highest degree. Together with the Inspector General and the Inspectorate of Policing, Ontario police services are committed to excellence in police leadership and excellence in service delivery to the province’s diverse communities,” said Chief Jim MacSween, President, Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police.

The Inspector General and the Inspectorate of Policing will improve performance of police services, police service boards and organizations that employ special constables by:

• Responding to public complaints concerning adequate and effective police service delivery and allegations of police board member misconduct;
• Examining performance of police services and boards through independent inspections, investigations, monitoring and advising;
• Identifying effective performance and, where improvements are needed, using new enforcement tools uniquely available to the Inspector General, including issuing directions and imposing measures to ensure compliance with the CSPA and its regulations;
• Imposing measures to ensure the provision of adequate and effective policing or in cases of a policing emergency;
• Conducting data analysis and research through the Inspectorate’s Centre of Data Intelligence and Innovation to promote evidence-based actions and improvements; and,
• Publicly reporting on the activities of the Inspector General, including publishing all inspection reports and an annual report.

“The data we collect, analyze and interpret will support our compliance mandate and help paint a better picture of how policing services are delivered across Ontario,” said Inspector General Teschner. “As Ontario enters this new era of policing with modern legislation and oversight, we will ask the questions the public deserves to have answered, apply our expertise to the evidence and, where necessary, take measures to improve Ontario’s policing and police governance system to help make everyone in this province safer.”

“As advocates for responsible civilian police governance and community engagement, the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote trust and confidence in public safety. We welcome the opportunity to work closely with Inspector General Teschner and his team in achieving these shared objectives,” said Patrick Weaver, Chair, Ontario Association of Police Services Boards.