To the Government of Canada:

We, Canadian citizens, call upon the federal government to establish a nationwide, publicly accessible platform for recording, tracking, and accessing reports of police misconduct. To ensure the platform is accurate, current, and comprehensive, we ask the Canadian government to partner with us or endorse this initiative. This collaboration would help provide transparent reporting on police misconduct, resignations, and other critical issues, fostering accountability and rebuilding trust between law enforcement agencies and the Canadian public.

Background:

Comprehensive, nationwide data on police misconduct in Canada—encompassing incidents such as suspicious resignations, racial targeting, assault, and breaches of Charter rights—are not readily available. The decentralized nature of law enforcement agencies and varying reporting standards across provinces and territories contribute to this lack of uniform data.

However, several studies and reports provide insights into specific aspects of police misconduct:

 • Fatal Interactions: Between 2000 and 2017, there were at least 460 fatal interactions between police and civilians across Canada. A significant proportion of those who died were reported to have mental health issues or substance abuse problems.

 • Use of Force Incidents: In 2021, on-duty police officers in Canada discharged firearms at 64 individuals, resulting in 32 fatalities. This statistic underscores ongoing concerns regarding the use of force by law enforcement.

 • Racial Disparities in Policing: Indigenous and Black communities have reported disproportionate targeting by police practices such as carding and street checks. For instance, in Vancouver, between 2008 and 2017, Indigenous individuals—who comprised about 2% of the local population—accounted for 15% of street checks.

 • Judicial Findings on Police Testimony: Over a five-year span, Canadian judges dismissed more than 50 criminal cases due to concerns about police officers providing false or misleading testimony. These instances highlight issues related to police credibility and accountability.

While these reports shed light on certain facets of police misconduct, they do not offer a comprehensive historical dataset. The absence of standardized national reporting mechanisms makes it challenging to present a complete history of police misconduct data across Canada. Addressing this gap would require coordinated efforts to establish consistent data collection and reporting practices nationwide.

Proposal:

We propose the creation of an independent and secure database where citizens can:

 1. Submit Reports: Allow individuals to file reports of police misconduct, including incidents of assault, breaches of Charter rights, fatalities, excessive use of force, and other forms of misconduct, accompanied by supporting evidence.

 2. Access Records: Enable the public to view verified records of police misconduct, including data on incidents, outcomes of investigations, and any disciplinary actions taken.

 3. Monitor Statistics: Provide comprehensive statistics on reported misconduct, categorized by type (e.g., assault, Charter rights breaches, fatalities), region, department, and individual officers, to identify patterns and inform policy decisions.

 4. Track Resignations: Document instances where officers resign or retire during misconduct investigations, ensuring transparency and preventing the circumvention of accountability measures.

Safeguards:

The platform should operate independently of police oversight bodies and include measures to:

 • Ensure privacy and protect the identities of complainants and whistleblowers.

 • Prevent false reporting through verification processes.

 • Maintain data security to protect sensitive information.

Rationale:

Transparency fosters accountability, which is critical for restoring public trust in law enforcement institutions across Canada. A national platform would:

 • Empower citizens with information about law enforcement conduct.

 • Deter misconduct through increased visibility and accountability.

 • Support research and policy-making aimed at improving policing practices.

We urge the Government of Canada to prioritize the safety, rights, and dignity of all Canadians by implementing this platform.

Sign this petition to demand a fairer, more transparent justice system in Canada.