Ottawa's civilian body responsible for overseeing the city's police service is finally coming back together in the same room — and not everyone is pleased it took this long.
The Ottawa Police Services Board is set to hold its first in-person meeting since late 2022, marking the end of what has been a remarkably long stretch of virtual-only governance for a board tasked with one of the city's most consequential public safety roles.
What the Police Services Board Does
The Ottawa Police Services Board is a civilian oversight body responsible for setting policy direction for the Ottawa Police Service, approving its budget, and holding the police chief accountable. It's not a rubber-stamp committee — it's meant to be a meaningful check on one of the most powerful institutions in the city.
Board meetings are typically open to the public, giving residents a chance to hear directly from elected and appointed members about decisions affecting policing in their neighbourhoods. That kind of transparency matters, especially in a city that has seen its share of contentious policing debates in recent years.
Why Did It Take So Long?
Virtual meetings became standard across Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic — a reasonable adjustment given the public health circumstances. But as restrictions lifted and life in Ottawa returned to normal, many public bodies gradually resumed in-person operations.
The police board's continued reliance on virtual meetings well into 2025 has drawn criticism from at least one police critic, who has publicly questioned why the board lagged so far behind. While virtual formats can increase accessibility in some ways, they can also reduce the energy and accountability of a live public forum — the kind where community members show up, make eye contact with board members, and feel heard.
What's at Stake
The return to in-person meetings comes at a moment when public trust in policing institutions across Canada remains a live issue. Ottawa residents have seen debates over police budgets, community safety strategies, and the balance between enforcement and social services play out over the past several years.
Having a civilian oversight board that meets face-to-face — in a publicly accessible space — is one of the baseline mechanisms for democratic accountability. Advocates for police reform and community safety have long argued that these meetings need to be visible and accessible, not tucked behind a video call link.
What Happens Next
The board is expected to resume its regular schedule in person, which means residents can once again attend meetings directly, speak during public deputations, and observe their elected representatives in action.
For Ottawans who care about how the city's police service is governed — whether you're a critic of current practices or a supporter — showing up to these meetings is one of the most direct ways to participate in local democracy.
It's a small but meaningful shift. Now the question is whether the board will use this renewed visibility to engage more actively with the public concerns that have been building over the past few years.
Source: CBC Ottawa
