The committee met at 1:01 p.m.

[D. Routley in the chair.]

Committee Workplan

D. Routley (Chair): Welcome to all the members. We have a fairly limited agenda today, with a couple of items. We’ll be going in camera to discuss our workplan.

Just as initial remarks, I’d like to thank the people of the Malahat Nation upon whose territory I’m coming to you today. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the meeting from their lovely territory.

The committee is comprised of a number of members from all sides. We have a broad-ranging set of tasks. We are to examine the systemic challenges and barriers that populations face in dealing with the Police Act. We are to provide solutions and opportunities to build equity, to address policing as it relates to mental illness, addiction and a number of other underlying issues and, then, to provide a foundation of recommendations for improved relationships with police and between communities.

It’s exciting to be able to do this work. I can say to members that the most rewarding work that I’ve done as an MLA over the years has been committee work. This is a collegial enterprise where we’re trying to benefit the constituents we represent.

We have a deep responsibility to provide a product that is worthy of our task and our undertaking but also to have a really positive impact on culture. We are asking people within the policing sector to embrace recommendations that this committee will make. We’ll, of course, be sure that all the voices are at the table and that we consider all views.

I welcome everybody to the conversation. I feel as though this has to be a safe place to have this conversation.

This committee will receive a lot of attention. Rightly so. I remain committed to all of you to provide balanced and fair chairmanship of an enterprise that I think we’re all very excited to undertake.

With that, I’ll hand it over to the vice-Chair for any comments he might make.

K. Riarh (Clerk to the Committee): I think we’ve lost Dan for the moment.

D. Routley (Chair): Okay, then. Karan, do you want to introduce the agenda?

K. Riarh (Clerk to the Committee): Should we entertain a motion to go in camera?

D. Routley (Chair): Yes.

R. Glumac: May I ask a question?

D. Routley (Chair): Yes.

R. Glumac: Thank you.

I served on committees last session, and in my experience, we didn’t go in camera very often. It may have been at the conclusion of a significant amount of work, where we could talk about the specific contents of a report or something like that.

I guess I’m just curious as to how much of this is going to be in camera and how much isn’t. Do we really need to go in camera for talking about a workplan and other aspects of this? It’s just a question that I wanted to raise.

[1:05 p.m.]

D. Routley (Chair): From my perspective, as Chair…. It has been the practice of other committees that I’ve been on that we would do this part of the work in camera.

Karan, do you have any special contribution to that?

K. Riarh (Clerk to the Committee): No. I would just echo that. I think that for more of the fulsome discussion, Rick, related to the workplan and kind of getting to specifics….

You may recall, for Children and Youth, the project on children and youth with neurodiverse special needs. The workplan we did discuss in camera, but there was always an opportunity afterwards to come out of camera and make some comments on the public record as well. Of course, any of the outcomes and plans will be communicated publicly as well.

I mean, it’s up to the committee, but usually the workplan has been typically in camera.

D. Routley (Chair): Any other questions?

Adam.

A. Olsen: Thank you, Chair.

I think I’ll just raise that I appreciate Rick raising this issue. I know he has raised it in the past. I think that taking into consideration the spirit of his question, if I may go into areas…. He didn’t…. I put words in his mouth, perhaps.

In light of the comments that you made, Chair, at the beginning of this, this will be a committee that I think the public is going to be paying close attention to. So at the be­ginning of this, just to note that the more times we go in camera, the more opportunity there is for people to wonder what’s going on.

As we go forward, I think I’d take the spirit of Rick’s comments and just say that if we could do as much of this in public as possible, that would be, I think, beneficial for all of the committee members as we go forward — and not having to answer questions like: “Well, that was in camera. So we can’t talk about it.” It will just add, I think, a challenge that we don’t necessarily need.

D. Routley (Chair): Thank you. Thanks to both members.

I can assure you, as Chair, that I’ll be working to make this as transparent a process as possible. We’re asking people to embrace this, and it will be difficult. Perhaps the product that we bring forward….

We’ll be asking people in a very, very difficult enterprise, of policing, and the people who are affected by policing to really believe in the changes that we’re recommending. That will involve making sure that their voices are at the table but also that as much of the deliberation and consideration is as open as possible.

The comments from the members are well taken.

Any others?

H. Sandhu: Yes. I just wanted to add something.

I appreciate Rick and Adam’s input. I agree that people have a lot of interest in this. But coming from a different background, from my ethnic background and my health care background, and having to share what we see, when it comes to mental health and the responses, and the input we want to provide…. I think in the beginning it may be how I see….

If I want to bring all the input and share some stories, whether it’s personal or work related, on how we can move forward — just the need to feel in a safe platform, where we can openly discuss. Oftentimes it depends on which background or experiences you have. You’re reluctant to share because people jump to conclusions.

Perhaps that was the reason to have it in camera. I think until we feel comfortable taking the discussion to the next level…. Maybe just my thoughts, though.

D. Routley (Chair): Okay. Well, with that, if there are no others, I would entertain a motion to move in camera. Garry. And a seconder? Dan.

You’ve heard the motion to move this meeting in camera.

Motion approved.

The committee continued in camera from 1:09 p.m. to 2:06 p.m.

[D. Routley in the chair.]

D. Routley (Chair): All right, Members. Having concluded our business, I thank all of you for your participation. I look forward to the work that we’re going to be doing together. I’m very optimistic that this will be a really positive experience for all of us. Thank you very much.

With that, I’d entertain a motion to adjourn this meeting. Garry, seconded by Ian.

Motion approved.

The committee adjourned at 2:06 p.m.