Nunavut MLAs Pass Territory’s New Police Act

Nunavut MLAs passed the territory’s new police act earlier this week, legislation that will allow the territorial government to engage independent investigative agencies to look into serious incidents involving the RCMP, according to Nunatsiaq News.

“I think this is a massive step forward for policing oversight across Nunavut,” Justice Minister George Hickes told the legislature Monday as Bill 53, An Act to Amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Agreement Act, received its third reading.

Currently, the Nunavut RCMP has agreements with the Ottawa and Calgary police services to conduct third-party investigations of incidents involving the police that lead to serious injury or death.