Governance
Critical Points Policy

Policy No. 03/26

Date Approved: March 25, 2026

Dates Amended: N/A

Reporting Requirements: As outlined in section 8

Legislative Authority:  Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, S.O. 2019 c. 1. Sched. 1

Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, S.O. 2019, c. 1. Sched. 1 s. 102(4b)

1. Policy Statement

The York Regional Police Service Board is committed to nurturing and maintaining a cooperative, transparent relationship with the Chief of Police premised upon open, reciprocal communication. The Board recognizes that the appropriate exchange of information between the Board and the Chief of Police supports effective decision making, enhances accountability and strengthens community confidence in policing. This Policy sets out a process to guide the Chief of Police and the Board in identifying when a “critical point” has been reached, and ensures the flow of relevant information from the Police Service to the Board, so that the Board can effectively carry out its governance and oversight role.

2. Purpose

Developed in response to an Inspectorate of Policing Memorandum and Advisory Bulletin, this policy will create a clear definition for when a significant policing event reaches the ‘critical point’ threshold. It will also formally establish a reciprocal ‘information exchange’ between the Chief of the York Region Police (YRP) and the Police Service Board (the “Board”) to provide information to one another relevant to their respective roles. This exchange will provide the Board with operational information informing its governance and oversight function, and the Chief of Police with an opportunity to provide their views on any direction the Board is considering.

The purpose of this policy to:

  1. Define the term Critical Point and provide clear and consistent assessment criteria for use in identifying Critical Points as they arise
  2. Describe the type of information the Board requires from the Chief in order to assess potential Critical Points;
  3. Describe the information sharing process between the Board and the Service when a Critical Point has been identified/confirmed;
  4. Strengthen oversight of the Service, consistent with the Board’s legislative responsibilities;
  5. Ensure accountability of the Service to the Board; and
  6. Ensure that the Chief of Police can discharge their duties according to law.

3. Application

  1. Chief of Police  
  2. York Regional Police Service Board

4. Definitions

Board: The Regional Municipality of York Police Service Board whom employs members of the York Regional Police, the Chief, Deputy Chiefs and Board Staff, and is responsible for the provision of adequate and effective policing within York Region.

Board Chair: The Board Member elected as Chair, at the first meeting of each year, as per the CSPA, or any other Member elected to serve as Chair during that same year, should the position become vacant.

Board Member: Any member of the York Regional Police Service Board duly appointed and in compliance with sections 33, 34, and 35 of the Act.

Chief of Police: The Chief of Police for York Regional Police or their designate.

Critical Point: A matter of strategic significance that is time-sensitive and which rapidly elevates the Board’s operational, financial, reputational, or other enterprise risk, and, therefore, calls for the Board’s immediate attention and/or preparedness to act such as:

  1. Large scale operations or events for which advance planning and approval by the Service’s Command is required;
  2. Events or operations that are likely to have a material impact on the Service’s relationship with, and service to, marginalized and vulnerable communities; or
  3. Events or operations that raise significant policy questions which impact the public;
  4. Credible external or internal workplace complaints, including complaints regarding workplace discrimination or harassment, against individual officers and the Service, and findings by other tribunals related to discrimination, where such complaints or findings raise significant systemic issues.

CSPA: The Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA), 2019 and its regulations as amended.

Executive Director: The individual appointed to the Board to lead and manage the operations of the Board or their designate.

York Regional Police: The police service established by the Board, under the direction of the Chief of Police

5. Responsibilities

5.1 Chief of Police:

  1. The Chief of Police: Shall inform the Board Chair and the Executive Director, or their respective designates, of any situation in which the Chief of Police believes a Critical Point has emerged, or is likely to emerge and provide the Board Chair, in writing, with further information regarding the Critical Point including, as appropriate:
  1. The general nature of the Critical Point;
  2. The elevated risk(s) posed by the Critical Point;
  3. Relevant operational or other information necessary for the Board to understand the details of the Critical Point, including an outline of the operational plan, and continuity of service plans;
  4. Any plans to involve other organizations, including requests to chiefs of police for temporary assistance pursuant to section 19 of the Community Safety and Policing Act.
  5. An estimate of the financial impact;
  6. Relevant legislation and other legal requirements that may apply including the need for additional authorities; and
  7. Any ongoing considerations, including resources needed, or policy impacts.
  1. In situations where the critical point is reached, the Board shall be provided, at the earliest possible stage, with sufficient relevant operational and other information to allow it to understand details of the operation/event/or issue, what legislation and other legal requirements may apply to the policing of the major event, and the role other organizations may play. 
  2. The Board shall be provided with sufficient information to allow it to ensure that operational plans;
  1. Are consistent with the mission and objectives;
  2. Are consistent with applicable Board policies; and
  3. No additional policies are required to provide guidance to the Police Service.
  1. Once the Board has been given the opportunity to review the information provided by the Chief and comment on the operational plans, the Police Service shall maintain the autonomy to finalize and execute the plans.
  1. The Chief shall continue to update the Board, through the Chair, on any significant developments, including once the Chief of Police determines the Critical Point has concluded. In consultation with the Board Members, the Board Chair may call a Special Meeting of the Board at any time, as per Bylaw 07-17, or include an item on the agenda of a regularly scheduled Board Meeting, to discuss the Critical Point.
  2. The Board shall be advised of continuity of service plans so that it can assure itself the rest of York Region will be adequately and effectively policed during the major event.
  3. The Board shall be provided with regular updates, defined by the Board, on the progress of the Service’s planning for the operation and the execution of the Plan. 

5.2 York Regional Police Service Board:

  1. The Board Chair shall ensure the information provided by the Chief of Police is shared with Board Members, all of which will be held in the strictest of confidence.
  2. The Board Chair, in consultation with the Board Members, and in accordance with the Board’s Procedural Bylaw, shall determine whether there is a need to obtain additional information, create or amend board policies and/or provide direction to the Chief in accordance with the Board’s policies, duties, and responsibilities. These include setting objectives, and priorities and determining whether to call a Special Meeting of the Board or to include the Critical Point as an item on the Agenda of the Board’s next regularly scheduled meeting.
  3. When the Board Chair believes, or is advised by a Board Member(s) they believe, that a planned or anticipated event, or an unplanned or unanticipated major investigation may constitute a Critical Point, the Board Chair shall request the Chief of Police to consider whether, in their view, the event may meet the definition of Critical Point. At which time the Chief shall either report to the Board in accordance with this Policy, or, alternatively, provide to the Board Chair reasons that the event in question does not meet the definition of a Critical Point.

6. Chiefs Autonomy

  1. Once the Board has been given the opportunity to set objectives, ask questions, and provide non-binding advice in relation to operational matters, where applicable the Chief shall maintain the autonomy to finalize and execute the plans.
  2. If, during the duration of a Critical Point, the Board concludes that, in its view, the Board’s objectives are not being achieved, the Board shall inform the Chief of Police of its conclusion. The Chief shall respond by informing the Board on corrective measures or the operational necessity of deviating from the Boards’ objectives.
  3. The Chief of Police shall remain autonomous in determining the appropriate execution of the plans in order to achieve the mission, objectives, and priorities as outlined in section 40(4) of the CSPA

7.  Training ResponsIbilities

  1. The Chief of Police: shall provide training to ensure all members of the Executive Leadership Team and Service Members from the rank of Inspector and above are trained to recognize the circumstances that may lead to a Critical Point, and to inform the Chief of Police and the Executive Leadership Team when a potential Critical Point is identified.

  2. The Board: shall ensure all current and new Board Members review this Policy to ensure an understanding of the definition of a Critical Point and each member receive training to ensure that they understand their responsibility with regards to the consideration of a Critical Point.

8. Public Reporting

  1. Subject to operational considerations and the advice of the Chief of Police, the Board shall publicly disclose, where it is possible to do so without risking the effectiveness of the operation or any other operations, the safety of Service Members or members of the public, or any other operational considerations raised by the Chief including;
    1. The nature of the operational matter related to a Critical Point; and
    2. Where appropriate, the direction given to the Chief of Police related to a Critical Point.

9. Compliance

Within six months of the invocation of a critical point Board staff will conduct a review of the operationalizing of the Critical Points Policy, gather feedback from York Region Police and members of the board about its effectiveness, and report back to the Board any recommendations for revision.

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