There Is No Place For Diversity In The Criminal Code

This should be obvious, especially to the OPP, when you look at their performance at Caledonia and the muckup in the Dudley George affair. Their might be a case when it comes to community relations but not when it comes to applying the law of the land.

OPP aims for diversity
January 12, 2007

The ever-changing face of Canadian society is at the core of an emerging OPP program being rolled out across the province.

"The world is becoming more and more diverse all the time," said Terry Wright, Orillia OPP's acting detachment commander.

Topics broached during the half-day diversity training sessions run the gamut from differing religious beliefs and ethnic backgrounds to sexual orientation and society's disadvantaged.

"We need to be an opening and welcoming community as a police service ... not only to the people in the organization, but the people we are likely to encounter," said Susan Laverty, superintendent of Central Region OPP. "It is about starting the discussion."

When officers are made aware of a particular community's religious beliefs, for example, they are better equipped to investigate a death or other serious incident in that community, Laverty said.

"One has to be considerate of these different needs of the family involved," she added.

All OPP staff - officers and civilians included - will participate in the program.

"We have more and more immigration in Canada," said Wright. "Quite frankly, we are engaging our employees in discussions about definitions of diversity and why it is crucial."

Future immigrants and their children are set to play a larger role than ever in Canada's workforce, given the country's declining birth rate, noted Laverty.

Whether urban or rural, "All of our communities are becoming more culturally diverse," she added.

As one of two program facilitators for the region, Wright meets with groups of a dozen staff members at a time.

"It is about dialogue," he said. "We want to make sure our employees understand the diverse culture we are working in."

Though a set program has been developed, participants are encouraged to play an active role while attending the sessions.

"We want to facilitate some good back and forth discussion," Laverty said.

Added Wright: "We are having more people from other continents coming to North America all the time. This isn't just something the police need to know. It is a fact of life, and society in general should have an awareness."