Canadian Provincial Police Association media release

Attention News Editors:

TORONTO, June 12 /CNW/ - The CPPA is the national voice for 54,000 police personnel serving across Canada. Through our 225 member associations, CPPA membership includes police personnel serving in police services from Canada's smallest towns and villages as well as those working in our largest municipal cities, provincial police services and members of the RCMP.

The OPP Association represents over 7,500 Ontario Provincial Police uniformed and civilian members who provide community-based policing and specialized policing services to residents in over 460 municipalities across Ontario.

On the 10th of June 2006, the Board of Directors for the CPPA spoke extensively about this issue and has adopted through motions the enclosed resolutions.

CPPA resolution: Support for OPP officers in Caledonia

Whereas the standoff and land dispute in Caledonia, Ontario has now surpassed 100 days making it the longest in Canadian history; and

whereas the front line officers of the Ontario Provincial Police and other police personnel are being placed in harms way each and every day that this standoff continues; and

whereas the deployment of officers to Caledonia is diminishing the level of police service and straining resources in other parts of Ontario;

Therefore, be it resolved that the Canadian Professional Police Association (CPPA) is united in its support of the police personnel who have been and will be deployed to Caledonia; and

be it further resolved that the CPPA supports a peaceful resolution to the standoff at Caledonia; and

be it finally resolved that the CPPA calls on parties on both sides of this conflict, including First Nations, federal government and provincial government decision makers, to make the safety of officers, protesters and the general public paramount in their minds as they seek a resolution to this standoff.

CPPA resolution: Call for federal government action

Whereas the standoff and land dispute in Caledonia, Ontario has now surpassed 100 days making it the longest in Canadian history; and

whereas no lasting resolution has been achieved; and

whereas public safety and the safety of Ontario Provincial Police officers and other police personnel are being put further and further at risk with each passing day; and

whereas the cause of the standoff is a land claim dispute with both federal and provincial government implications; and these matters are clearly not only a provincial policing responsibility;

therefore, be it resolved that the Canadian Professional Police Association (CPPA) calls upon the federal government to uphold its Constitutional obligations and take a lead role in bringing about a peaceful resolution to this standoff by remaining at the table in a fully engaged manner until this situation is resolved; and

be it further resolved that the CPPA will open a dialogue with the federal government to deliver the message that the law enforcement community fully expects that the federal government will play a key role in advancing solutions at Caledonia.

For further information:

Should you have questions regarding this issue, please contact those below for comment: President Tony Cannavino, CPPA, (613) 231-4168; or President Karl Walsh, OPP Association, (705) 728-6161