Post 2 Raising the Bar: Why Four Meetings a Year Isn’t Enough
There’s a long-standing pattern in police governance across Ontario. Many boards have operated with minimal engagement, meeting just a few times a year and relying on routine processes and approvals to fulfill their role. That may have been tolerated under the old legislation, but the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA) has raised the bar.
The expectations are now clear. Police Governance Boards are responsible for setting priorities, monitoring performance, and ensuring police services reflect the needs of the communities they serve. That requires more than attendance. It requires intention, structure, and a commitment to oversight that goes beyond the basics.
The four-meeting minimum is not a standard. It’s a starting point. Boards that want to meet their obligations under the CSPA and earn the trust of their communities will likely need to build a rhythm that supports real governance.
This isn’t about pointing fingers. It’s about acknowledging that the system has changed, and boards need to change with it. Oversight is not ceremonial. It’s active. It’s strategic. And it’s essential.
Here are a few ways boards can start moving beyond the minimum:
- Schedule meetings around key milestones like planning, performance reviews, or budget cycles
- Create small working groups or committees and advisory groups to tackle specific issues and report back
- Rotate leadership roles for discussion topics to build ownership and engagement
- Set one governance goal each quarter and track progress
- Invite guest speakers to spark discussion and new thinking
- End each meeting with one question. What did we do today that made policing better for our community?
Boards may need more meetings because of the volume of work but we all need better meetings. Better does not happen by accident. It happens when boards commit to showing up with purpose, asking the right questions, and refusing to settle for the minimum