Important Information for Municipal Police Boards
The Ontario Association of Police Services Boards (OAPSB) welcomes the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario’s newly released guidance on the use of Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG)—a Canadian first. This milestone framework provides critical direction on how police services can adopt emerging investigative tools while upholding the highest standards of privacy, ethics, and public trust.
As the provincial association representing police governance across Ontario, we recognize that IGG holds tremendous promise in advancing justice—particularly in resolving serious crimes and cold cases. At the same time, we emphasize that innovation must always be balanced by robust civilian oversight, grounded in principles of necessity, proportionality, and transparency.
The IPC’s twelve recommended guardrails—covering areas such as legal authority, public consultation, and vendor management—provide a timely and essential framework for police boards. They underscore our shared commitment to ensuring that new technologies are applied in ways that respect human rights and strengthen community trust.
We encourage our member boards to:
- Review the IPC’s IGG guidance in detail;
- Engage in local dialogue with police leadership and community stakeholders; and
- Develop or refine policies to ensure accountable and ethical use of IGG.
This is a crucial moment for police governance to lead—by asking the right questions, fostering public confidence, and shaping the path forward for ethical and effective policing in Ontario.
To access the full guidance, visit the IPC’s website here and check our resource page for helpful templates and documents