Province makes early changes to police board

CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Steve Cousins, the most recent chair of Stratford’s police service board, has been removed as a member of the board by the Ministry of the Solicitor General.

The removal was approved and ordered on Dec. 11, made effective Dec. 31, though was only posted on Jan. 8 to the Government of Ontario’s website.

The board consists of two municipal officials, currently held by Mayor Martin Ritsma and Coun. Harjinder Nijjar, one community representative, currently held by Lisa Wilde, and two provincial appointments. The latter two were formerly held by Tim Doherty and Cousins, though is now filled by Dan Mathieson and Travis Blum, according to police Chief Greg Skinner (currently, only Mathieson, Ritsma, Nijjar and Wilde are listed on the City of Stratford’s website as members of the board).

“The provincial appointments are the sole purview of the province, and they have their processes for identifying and filling provincial vacancies on police service boards,” Skinner said in an emailed statement when asked to comment on the change.

“The board, under the stewardship of Steve Cousins, Martin Ritsma and Harj Nijjar, has been making significant gains for the service and the community,” Skinner wrote. “In addition to enhancing efficiencies … they have taken a critical look at the strategic direction of the service in compliance with new legislation and are in the process of creating a strategic plan focused on the future of policing prioritizing community engagement, they have taken significant steps to restructure the police service to contain costs and enhance frontline service delivery and they have worked tirelessly on commissioning a new police HQ.

“I am confident the new board members will continue to focus on improving frontline service delivery, containing costs and ensuring that the Stratford police provides a sustainable, high performing service to the residents and visitors to Stratford, St. Marys and Perth South.”

Speaking with the Times, Ritsma confirmed that the news was a surprise to him, having only heard of the change on Jan. 14 after media reached out inquiring about it. He has yet to receive anything from the ministry officially but reached out to local MPP Matthew Rae about the move.

“And he indicated to me that it was them addressing across the province appointees at different police service boards from the province, provincial appointees,” Ritsma shared. “… I know in the past, they've been slower with regards to the replacement of those individuals, where their scheduled appointment had lapsed or were about to lapse.

“… They recognize that their appointee of Steve Cousins was coming towards the end of his mandate, and like other individuals across the province, they revoked that and moved forward on naming a new individual.”

Ritsma said that while the change may be surprising to members of the public, he believes from his conversations with Rae that it was only the early execution of an ongoing process. Like Skinner, he is looking forward to a new year for the board.

“We're going to have a full complement,” Ritsma said. “The board will be filled out with Lisa Wilde, who is no stranger to the community, and will add such strength from her position with the Emily Murphy Centre. I know Travis Blum as well, with regards to his commitment to the business community and beyond. You know, he's been involved with things like the Chamber of Commerce, so he will bring that strength. And of course, Dan’s previous work with the police services board will be an asset as well.”

The Times attempted to reach Cousins for comment, though did not hear back in time for press.

According to the agenda package of the board’s most recent meeting on Jan. 21 (after press time), elections for the 2026 chair and vice chair were scheduled. Details from the meeting will be published in the Times’ next regular edition on Jan. 30.