Diversity Plan Policy for Council Appointments to the Kingston Police Service Board

In this policy, unless the context requires otherwise:

City means The Corporation of the City of Kingston;

City employee means a person who performs work or supplies services directly to the City for monetary compensation under an employment contract but does not include council members;

Clerk means the clerk of the City or their designate;

Council means the council of The Corporation of the City of Kingston.

Council member means a person elected to office on council;

CPSA means the Community Policing & Safety Act, 2019, S.O. 2019, c. 1, Sched.;

IIDEA Plan means the City’s approved Indigenization, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Strategy and Action Plan; and

KPSB means Kingston Police Service Board.

2.1 The purpose of this policy is to provide a framework for ensuring that the three members of KPSB appointed by council are representative of the diversity of the population in the City of Kingston, in accordance with Subsection 28(1) of the CPSA.

2.2 This policy is aligned with the IIDEA Plan and will be implemented in a manner consistent with the IIDEA Plan.

3.1 The CPSA requires that every municipality that maintains a municipal police service board prepare and, by resolution, approve a diversity plan to ensure that the members of the municipal police service board appointed by the municipality are

representative of the diversity of the population in the municipality. The plan must be published on the Internet in accordance with the CPSA and reviewed and, if appropriate, revised, at least once every four years.

3.2 The KPSB is composed of seven members:

1. three provincial representatives appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council;
2. two council members appointed by Council;
3. the mayor or the mayor’s delegate; and
4. one citizen representative appointed by council.

4.1 This policy applies to the appointment process for the three members of the KPSB that are appointed by council pursuant to clauses 3.2b. and d. above.

4.2 This policy will be distributed to council for consideration in any process to appoint members to the KPSB and will be included in council orientation and onboarding materials.

4.3 In accordance with Subsection 33(1) of the CPSA, council must have regard to this policy when making appointments to the KPSB.

5.1 When making appointments to the KPSB, council must have regard to:

1. the diversity of the population of the City of Kingston;
2. the existing composition of the KPSB, recognizing that not all members of the KPSB are appointed by council;
3. the competencies prescribed by the CPSA;
4. the results of the applicant’s police record check, as required pursuant to Subsection 33(2) of the CPSA; and
5. the objective of maintaining a municipal police service board whose municipal appointees collectively reflect the diversity of the community.

5.2 Members of the public applying for the citizen representative position on the KPSB may complete the voluntary diversity information questions contained in the committee application. The information is collected to support the administration and evaluation of this policy and the City’s Public Appointment Policy.

5.3 In recruiting for citizen representatives on the KPSB, the clerk will comply with Subsection 29(1) of the CPSA,  which requires the municipality to take reasonable steps to promote the availability of an appointment to the KPSB, and the clerk will incorporate proactive outreach aligned with the IIDEA Plan.

6.1 The City recognizes that it appoints only three of the seven members of the KPSB. Accordingly, this policy is intended to guide appointments within council’s statutory authority only.

6.2 Nothing in this policy requires the appointment of a person on the basis of any single personal characteristic, establishes a quota, or limits council’s obligation to consider all statutory eligibility requirements, competencies and other relevant qualifications. Council must consider diversity as one of several relevant factors, having regard to the existing composition of the KPSB, the diversity of the population of the City of Kingston, and the qualifications, skills and experience of applicants.

7.1 This policy will be reviewed by the clerk once per term of council.

7.2 This policy is to be read in conjunction with the City’s Public Appointment Policy and the IIDEA Plan.

7.3 This policy will be made available on the City’s website in accordance with the CPSA.