QUEEN’S PARK – Sol Mamakwa, Ontario NDP Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister for Indigenous and Treaty Relations, is calling out the Ontario government for its continued neglect of the mental health and well-being of First Nations police officers, demanding immediate action to correct long-standing disparities.
Mamakwa, who represents Kiiwetinoong, is sounding the alarm following the release of a new report by the Chiefs of Ontario, produced in collaboration with police services under the Ontario First Nations Policing Agreement (OFNPA).
“We’ve brought the urgent needs of First Nations police officers to this government time and time again — and each time, those calls have been ignored,” said Mamakwa.
“This government’s inaction is coming at a terrible cost to the mental health of officers who serve and protect First Nations communities under conditions that would never be tolerated elsewhere in Ontario.”
Report Reveals Alarming Mental Health Crisis
The report, titled ‘Mental Health Review of the OFNPA Police Services’, is based on surveys and interviews with officers working under the 17 OFNPA services.
Key findings include:
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74% of officers reported experiencing mental health issues while on the job.
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Over 25% reported poor or very poor mental health at work in the past six months.
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The primary causes of distress include insufficient staffing, lack of mental health supports, employment uncertainty, limited career growth, and frequent exposure to trauma.
The report issues 14 clear recommendations aimed at addressing these systemic issues.
Government Must Act Now — Mamakwa
Mamakwa says the Ontario government cannot continue to overlook the systemic inequities faced by First Nations police services, many of which are governed by First Nations governments but administered by the Indigenous Policing Bureau of the OPP.
“There is no question that if these working conditions existed in non-Indigenous police services, the government would act immediately,” Mamakwa stated.
“I am calling on the Premier and his government to implement all 14 recommendations in the report — and to do it now. Our officers, our communities, and their families cannot wait any longer.”
Quick Facts:
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The Ontario First Nations Policing Agreement (OFNPA), established in 1991, lays out the framework for policing on First Nations reserves in Ontario.
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The report was informed by 43 survey respondents from the OFNPA’s 78 members, with 32 individuals participating in interviews.
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The findings highlight a deep and ongoing mental health crisis within OFNPA services, driven by chronic underfunding and lack of structural support.
