Board of Police Commissioners

About the Halifax Board of Police Commissioners

The Halifax Board of Police Commissioners provides civilian governance and oversight for the Halifax Regional Police on behalf of Regional Council. The Board also functions as a Police Advisory Board to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Halifax District as it performs contractual policing services within the Halifax Regional Municipality.

The legislated mandate and responsibilities of Board of Police Commissioners is established by the Provincial Government of Nova Scotia, and set out in the Police Act [PDF], as well as the Board's Terms of Reference (By-Law P-100) [PDF].

The Board of Police Commissioners Policy Manual provides further information regarding the roles and responsibilities of the Board in fulfilling its mandate to provide civilian governance and oversight of police services provided within the Halifax Regional Municipality. 

The Board of Police Commissioners normally meets on the third Monday of each month, at 12:30 p.m. Meeting dates and times are subject to change. Check the calendar below, and the agenda (once available) to confirm the exact date and time for each meeting.

Find out what’s happening at board meetings and learn how you can participate. 

You can find meeting agendas and minutes online. You can also search for records of committee meetings.

Membership and biographies

Commissioner Natalie Borden

Commissioner Carole McDougall - Vice Chair

Commissioner Carlos Beals

Commissioner Becky Kent

Commissioner Anthony Thomas

Commissioner Lindell Smith - Chair

Commissioner Lisa Blackburn


Wortley Report Recommendations Update

September 30, 2020

The Halifax, Nova Scotia:  Street Checks Report, also known as the “Wortley Report” was commissioned by the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. It completed by Dr. Scot Wortley and released in March of 2019.  Dr. Wortley examined the relationship between race and street checks in Halifax Regional Municipality and made several recommendations related to banning or regulating street checks, data collection and improving police community relations.

Many stakeholders were included in the recommendations, including the Halifax Regional Police (HRP) the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Department of Justice (DOJ), NS Human Rights Commission (NSHRC) and the Halifax Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC) because each has a role to play  The BOPC is releasing the details of the progress on these recommendations for HRP and RCMP.

When reviewing the tracking document below, please note the following:
•    The document includes the recommendations on banning street checks, data collection and police community relations.  
•    Since street checks were banned by the Minister of Justice in October 2019, the recommendations for regulating street checks have not been included.  
•    The document encompasses the actions undertaken on the recommendations that were the responsibility of BOPC, RCMP and HRP.  
•    It is not appropriate for the BOPC to comment on the recommendations that were the responsibility of others, so no comments/updates or status have been included for these recommendations.
•    Some of the recommendations have been marked as complete, but some of those related to training, engagement, recruitment and improving cultural competency will be ongoing multi-year commitments. 

A significant amount of work has occurred and continues to occur in response to the Wortley Report.  This would not have been possible without the BOPC, RCMP and HRP being committed to working together to address the findings of the report, and the BOPC thanks all for their continued efforts.  

This update does not signify the end of the work but does provide a different perspective under which policing is planned and implemented in HRM.  This means that while some of the recommendations may be marked as complete, there has been a shift in thinking that will be incorporated as part of our work, and the work of the HRP and RCMP in future.  Policies, processes and decisions have been impacted by this report, and the BOPC will continue to work within its mandate with its policing partners to ensure that this continues.

This is an unprecedented time of social justice reform and the Wortley Report is one part of the work that needs to be done. The BOPC will continue to work with HRP, RCMP and other stakeholders bring about meaningful change and equitable treatment of all residents of HRM.

Wortley Report Recommendations Tracking Document [PDF]

Staff contact for the Board of Police Commissioners

Andrea Lovasi-Wood
Legislative Assistant
lovasia@halifax.ca
902.490.6732

HRM Police Services Codes of Conduct 

Although the Board of Police Commissioners does not directly oversee the discipline of individual officers, or the day-to-day operations of the police services, they are mandated to provide civilian governance relating to the administrative and policy direction of the Halifax Regional Police necessary to maintain an adequate, effective and efficient police department. The Board also provides the same oversight in an advisory capacity for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Halifax District.

The conduct of Halifax Regional Police employees is guided by the Halifax Regional Police Code of Ethics. [PDF]

Halifax Regional Police Policy on Street Checks [PDF]

The conduct of Royal Canadian Mounted Police Halifax District employees is governed by Part 4 of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act.

RCMP National Policy on Street Checks [PDF]

RCMP National Policy on Bias-Free Policing [PDF]

Police Diversity Working Group

The Police Diversity Working Group (PDWG) is a working group of Halifax Regional Police and the Halifax District Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It is dedicated to fostering police organizational change through inclusion and respect while improving relationships between police and the communities through demographic, cultural and geographic representation. More information can be found on the Police Diversity Working Group's webpage.