HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2017-02-15, Page 15OPP launches sex -assault review
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"We have policies and proce-
dures in place, mandatory training
for investigators, and layers of
supervision and review for these
types of investigations," Hawkes
said in a news release Wednesday.
"We are strongly committed to con-
tinuously seek improvement in
order to earn and maintain the
public's confidence and trust."
Hawkes said if it's determined
that any sexual assault report was
not properly investigated by the
OPP, the investigation will be
re -opened.
London police and York
Regional Police have already
announced they'll review how they
handle such cases.
Goodale is urging police forces
to review not only past cases, but
also their operating procedures.
"The Minister of Public Safety
has raised this with the RCMP
Commissioner directly and has
called on other police forces in
Canada to examine this as well,"
Goodale's office wrote in an
emailed statement.
"No victim should fear that their
case won't be taken seriously by
police."
At the OPP's Orillia headquar-
ters, Sgt. Peter Leon said the review
of how the OPP investigates sexual
assaults in all 163 of its detach-
ments has already begun. "We're
going to go back and look at each
and every occurrence and the
investigation and the outcomes so
that we can be comfortable when
we do make a formal statement," he
said.
The ()PP audit, and the push for
a national investigation, struck a
chord with a London academic
involved in the fight against
domestic violence.
"It is very welcome news. I'm
going to say that this is a break-
through. We're starting to pay
attention to how difficult it is for
survivors in the criminal justice
system." said Barb MacQuarrie, of
Western University's Centre for
Research and Education on Vio-
lence Against Women and
Children.
Hawkes said "it will take some
time" for the OPP to complete its
review, but "if warranted, we will
expand the review."
The OPP also encouraged vic-
tims to continue to come forward
and report crimes.
"I want all victims of sexual
assault or any crime to have confi-
dence in the OPP and our ability to
investigate crimes and bring those
responsible to justice," Hawkes said.
MacQuarrie said it's encouraging
the issue is being pushed into the
spotlight, and said she hopes the
various police reviews will produce
meaningful change.
"This is just unprecedented, the
attention that the issue is finally
getting," she said. "It's a real sign
that we're taking survivors seri-
ously and that we're willing to
understand more about the survi-
vor's perspective in this."
Wednesday, February 15, 2017 • Huron Expositor 15
Justine Alkema/Postmedia Netwoalc
The intersection in question of Highways 4 and 25 just south of Blyth. 1011 people signed a petition for a stoplight at this
intersection.
Blyth stoplight petition brought to county council
Another survey
Ar to take place of
intersection
Justine Alkema
Postmedia Network
Blyth residents Chris Patterson
and Bill Knott brought a petition
before county with 1011 names on
it for a stoplight at the intersection
of Highways 4 and 25 just south of
Blyth.
A road audit was already
done by the county in the past
year on the intersection which
took in consideration the new
Tim Hortons and Cowbell, and
that audit determined that a
stoplight was not needed due to
a number of factors including
the number of collisions and
the flow of traffic.
Knott argued that many acci-
dents aren't reported if they are
minor enough not to require the
OPP. Also, both Knott and Patter-
son said their numbers don't repre-
sent the numbers of close calls and
that sight lines are bad at the inter-
section. North Huron and Morris-
Turnberry both passed motions in
previous meetings to support the
group.
Also, the road audit done by the
county was also done during the
school year. Patterson argued in a
previous interview that doesn't
make sense as Blyth is much bus-
ier during the summer months
with the Blyth Festival and those
using the campground on High-
way 25.
Most county councilors agreed
that the situation called for
another survey to take. place of the
intersection to reassess if a stop-
light is needed, and a motion
passed for county staff to take that
on.
Central Huron's Canada 150 celebration gets no provincial funding, but that won't stop the group
Group looking
Ar to council and
sponsors for funds
Justine Alkema
Postmedia Network
The Central Huron Canada 150
committee received some disap-
pointing news as of late - they
will not be receiving any provin-
cial funds for their celebration of
Canada's 150th birthday July 6-9
in Clinton. However the commit-
tee has decided to carry on full
swing with all that they have
planned.
The group had applied for
$58,000 from the Ontario 150 grant
for the event. They were holding
back on booking events until they
heard about the monies, but they
had big plans for the event, includ-
ing a fireworks show.
Councillor Alison Lobb, who sits
on the committee, said she's heard
of multiple other events that didn't
get money from the grant including
the International Plowing Match
and other organizations.
While Central Huron council has
already pledged $10,000 to the
cause, at their recent meeting when
they found out about the grant,
they discussed giving more.
"We haven't done something
like this in a long time," said
Mayor Ginn, expressing that it's
important to have these types of
events that all ratepayers can
benefit from.
Deputy Mayor Jewitt pointed out
that events like this need to be
done right and well. It's better to
have an event that is more costly
and has a lot to offer, because if it
doesn't offer much, people are less
likely to come.
In general, all of council seemed
to agree that they should give more
finances to the event, though they
did not decide on how much. Lobb
said she would get back to them
after looking at their budget with a
better idea of how much they will
ask for.
Lobb said the committee got
together the day after that council
meeting, and they decided they're
"going to go ahead with absolutely
everything."
Lobb said the meeting was very
encouraging. There was a large
group of people in attendance with
new volunteers. They committee is
a collaboration of all kinds of local
groups.
Lobb told the News Record that
they already found a private spon-
sor for the fireworks which costs
around $1000 per minute, and
they're looking for other sponsors
as well.
She said that weekend will
include all of the regular Pluckin-
Fest activities, but it's also going to
have fireworks, a car show, histori-
cal displays, a golf tournament,
disc golf tournament, euchre tour-
nament and all kinds of other
events.
The group meets on the second
Tuesday of each month at the Kins-
men Hall if anyone from the com-
munity would like to attend,and
help out.
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Justine Alkema/
Postmedia Network
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