The Ontario Scrapbook Hansard

Ontario Scrapbook Hansard, 7 Mar 1935, p. 1

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In presenting the measure for its second reading, the Attorney--General 'declared emphatically that the bill | must not be construed in any way as an attempt on the part of the Govern-- ment to interfere with the manage-- 'ment. or control of municipal police forces in Ontario. W. A. Baird, Conservative, High Park, was speaking at the 6 o'clock adjournment. He summed up his opposition to the measure in the fol-- lowing words: "Because of the extreme socialistic tendencies on the part of the present Attorney--General, we feel that this bill should be opposed strongly." The action of the Opposition in talk-- ing the bill out means that the measure now must take its place at the bottom of the pile of Government bills. "I care not who that person is," the Attorney--General went on. "Such a director must not eask for co--opera-- tion in an emergency, but give the order, so that all roads are closed, ali avenues of escape blocked, and spe-- clal lines of communication establish-- Any move to co--ordinate police ac-- tivity in Ontario should, according to Wilfrid Heighington, Conservative, St. David's, who led the attack, be made along "national lines"--possibly by co--operation with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,. Hon. Leopold Macaulay was con-- cerned about the naming of a di-- rector. "Why couldn't you have named your director in the bill? Couldn't you have named the Chief Commis-- sioner of Provincial Police?" he asked. "Perhaps it could be done that way --of course it could, but in the esti-- mation of the Government it wouldn't be wise," the Attorney--General said. "Were the Chief Commissioner to be named, it would place him in a pre-- ferred position, and perhaps arouse jJealousy among other police forces. That is a situation we wish to avoid." "In these modern times," the At-- torney--General declared, "the gang-- ster is operating in municipalities and1 a war is being waged between police and a violent underworld. The great-- est co--operation is necessary for the fight is with well--financed brigands." Opposition forces, however, inter-- preted the bill as a direct move on the part of the Attorney--General to gain full control over all law enforcement bodies throughout the Province. That the appointment of a Director of Social Police Services, vested with absolute power over all police forces in Ontario in times of emergency, would constitute an invasion of the field of municipal autonomy, was a salient point in an attack launched in the Ontario Legislature yesterday by members of the Opposition against Attorney--General Arthur W,. Roe-- buck's police bill. Recently the Attorney--General said there was demonstrated a pressing reed for such a director. He did not mention the instance, but it is freely admitted to have been the Labatt kidnapping case. *'Municipalities," he declared, "were willing to co--operate, but none at that time knew to whom they could turn for absolute authority and direction. It was really essential that some one should have been in power. The bill, the Attorney--Gencral strossed, is one which would be op-- erative only in times of emergency. In such times, he said, such a direc-- tor as he proposed should have com-- ploete control over all forces. Roebuck Co--ordination Measure Introduced BY TORIES POLICE OPPOSED Invades Antonomy. Wilfrid _ Heighington maintained that the measure invaded the ficld of municipal antonomy. It was the same member who stated that any co--ordination should be along nation-- Aal lines. He cited the fact that sev-- eral Provinces have discarded their Provincial police and made a work-- IngpfAinancial arrangement with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. At considerable length, Mr. Heigh-- ington read despatches concerning labor troubles in Northern Ontario which in some instances criticized the Attorney--General for withholding po-- lice activity in connection with these strikes. "When we are asked to grant such power to the Attorney--General," de-- clared Mr. Heighington, "we should take time to consider how far--reach-- ing are recent developments in the Provincial Police force. and if they entitle the Attorney--General to such power." He insinuated thxt the At-- torney--Gencral had not acted ade-- quately in respect to the Northern strikes, and deprecated the dismissal of a number of highway traffic offi-- cors. "Has there been an increase in ac-- cidents on the highways since these officers have been cut off?"" asked the Premier. "He hasn't the knowledge and I suggest he stop talking and let some-- one talk who knows something about it," put in the Provincial Secretary. Croll Backs Bill, The proposed police bill was strongly backed by Hon. David Croll. Minister of Public Welfare. "I haven't the figures," replied Mr. Hcighington. The first attempt on the part of the Attorney--General to interfere in police matters of municipalities, de-- clared W. A. Baird, was in the dis-- "If this was the first effort on the part of the Attorney--General to gain control of police forces we might look at the bill in a different--light," declared Mr. Baird, "but we had their action in connection with the Toronto Polic» Commission. This is another attempt on the part of the Attorney--General to gain power over outside police forces." He then charged that Magistrates in Ontario know that the Attorney-- General does not desire them to pass as strict penalties on the radical cle-- ment when they run foul of the law. '"We can see through this bill," said Mr. Baird; 'we are not quite so dumb as you think. although we do sit on the Opposition side of the House." missal of the former Toronto Police Commission members. "The present Attorney--General," Mr. Baird said, "has not the broad under-- standing of his predecessor on mat-- ters of this kind. The radical ele-- ments know that the present Attorney. General is more sympathetic to them than was his predecessor." "Because of the extreme socialistic tendency on the part of the present Attorney--General, we feecl that this bill should be opposed," Mr. Baird concluded. "They marched from all sections of the Province,." he said. "Not from the North," objected a member fro ma Northern riding. Mr. Baird recalled the city's atti-- tude and that of the Attorney--Gen-- eral in connection with tha "hunger march" on Queen's Park. March

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