4.6.2 Political Influence and Institutional Constraints on Law Enforcement

Introduction

For further context, readers are encouraged to review Section 7.1.10 Policing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Balancing Authority and Citizens’ Rights in the original NCI Report titled: “Inquiry into the Appropriateness and Efficacy of the COVID-19 Response in Canada”(November 28, 2023) and Section 5.1.1 Performance of Canada’s Police Services During the Pandemic in the Supplemental Report (November 28, 2024).

The Supplemental Report raises significant concerns regarding the lack of investigations into numerous potentially criminal acts committed during the enforcement of government measures in response to COVID-19. Despite numerous reports of fraud, loss of life, and widespread violations of fundamental rights, no substantive police inquiry has been conducted. This inaction suggests a politicization of law enforcement, where police forces operate under political directives rather than acting independently to uphold the law.

Testimonies presented during the NCI Vancouver Hearings further reinforce these concerns. Public trust in law enforcement, particularly regarding the protection of children, is severely undermined. If police fail to intervene in cases of child trafficking, exposure to sexually explicit material, or life-threatening medical practices, who then is responsible for safeguarding our children?

Discussion of Witness Testimonies

Vincent Gircys

Overview of Testimony

Vincent Gircys is a retired officer with 32 years of service in the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). During his career, he served as a forensic reconstruction expert, conducting over 4,500 investigations and testifying as an expert witness in court on numerous occasions.

At the NCI Vancouver Hearings, Gircys provided expert testimony regarding political influence on law enforcement and the disciplinary action against Detective Helen Grus.

Key Points of Testimony

• Shift in Policing Priorities Due to Political and Ideological Influence:

• Officer selection is increasingly based on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) considerations, such as gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, rather than merit and performance.

• DEI priorities stem from international organizations, influencing Canadian institutions and eroding meritocracy.

• He cited an RCMP national defence report, which claims that climate change and public health are among the primary drivers of crime. Notably, at least 28% of the report’s sources, sources known by the witness, come from organizations such as the World Economic Forum (WEF), the United Nations (UN), the CIA, Global News, and the CBC, raising concerns about their credibility in shaping law enforcement policies.

• Erosion of the Separation Between Law Enforcement and Political Power

• The institutional independence of police forces has been compromised, leading to biased law enforcement decisions.

• Gircys highlighted close relationships between senior police management and political figures, as well as a revolving door between law enforcement leadership and government positions.

• He observed that police services that enforced COVID-19 mandates received preferential treatment, while those that resisted faced repercussions.

• Systemic Unethical Practices in Law Enforcement

• Gircys described tactics used within police organizations to maintain plausible deniability, including refusing to accept formal complaints and ignoring legal documents.

• He emphasized that crimes committed by government officials are not investigated as criminal offences but are instead classified as mere ethical violations, shielding politicians from prosecution.

• The case of Detective Helen Grus exemplifies these unethical practices.

• Case Study: Detective Helen Grus

• As an officer with the Ottawa Police Service, Grus investigated the unexplained deaths of nine breastfed infants, whose mothers had received the COVID-19 injection.

• Despite having reasonable grounds to suspect a connection between the deaths and injection, she was disciplined for conducting an unauthorized investigation, even though such investigations fell within her professional mandate.

• As she prepared to testify at her disciplinary hearing, she received a threatening email from the head of Professional Standards Unit of the Ottawa Police Service, which may constitute witness intimidation and obstruction of justice.

• She was denied the right to present her 5 expert witnesses in her defence.

• Her family and herself were allegedly subjected to illegal surveillance authorized by the head of Professional Standards Unit of the Ottawa Police Service.

• The Police Association of Ontario refused to acknowledge submissions in support of Grus for the 2024 Hero of the Year Award. She received in excess of 200 submissions more than the other candidates.

• Legislative Changes Restricting Police Independence

• Since the Grus case, legislative amendments in Ontario now prevent police officers from conducting discretionary investigations without direct authorization from their superiors.

Gircys concluded that Canada’s law enforcement system no longer serves the public interest but instead functions to advance political objectives, leaving children unprotected.

Amrit Birring

Overview of Testimony

Amrit Birring is a resident of Surrey, British Columbia, a father of two, a software developer, and an activist for children's rights. He founded a political party with the primary objective of abolishing the SOGI 1-2-3 program in schools.

Mr. Birring has filed a police complaint against British Columbia's Minister of Education regarding sexually explicit books and materials in elementary and high school libraries. The police officer agreed that the material was sexually explicit and therefore covered by section 171.1 of the Criminal Code, and that it was indeed in the school libraries.

Despite of that, the police refused to lay charges, alleging that since this material was not proven to have been shown to children, no crime would have been committed. The books remain in the libraries since that time, having not been seized by the police, allowing any child to consult them.

The police investigator does not appear to have checked whether these books were borrowed by children, in which case a record would have proved that children had been exposed to this sexually explicit material. When the witness asked the police officer whether the school had a system to track or audit whether or not teachers were showing these materials to students, the police investigator had no answer. In the report Birring received through an access to information request, he learned that the school board had refused to sit down with the police investigator to discuss the situation.

Discussion and Analysis of the Issues Raised by Witnesses

These two testimonies highlight the influence of international political ideologies in the handling of criminal cases and the unethical practices that have resulted. Not only does the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches seem to be eroding, but political agendas seem to determine which cases will be investigated and/or prosecuted in the courts. It raises the questions: are our institutions hi-jacked? How can we protect our children from criminals if nobody investigates their crimes or let them happen in plain sight, in the schools themselves? Children are hostages in the school system, obliged to obey this authority unless they are homeschooling.

What harm is done to our children when they are exposed to sexually explicit material in schools and when qualified police officers are not allowed to investigate the unexplained death of infants?

Article 171.1 of the Criminal Code is clear: the simple fact of making sexually explicit material available to children is a crime. The fact that the books are in the school libraries is sufficient in itself to constitute a breach of the law. And those books should be seized.

When police services become politically controlled or institutionally constrained, justice becomes selective, some crimes are pursued aggressively, while others are ignored. This leads to a lack of accountability for powerful institutions and a perceived two-tier justice system where only certain concerns are taken seriously.

Conclusion

The testimonies of Vincent Gircys and Amrit Birring demonstrate that political influence and institutional constraints are actively shaping law enforcement in Canada.

1. Police are prevented from acting independently, as shown in Helen Grus’ case.

2. Investigations into politically sensitive topics are obstructed or ignored, as seen in Amrit Birring’s complaint about explicit school materials.

3. Children are at risk because law enforcement is failing in its fundamental duty to protect them, as Gircys warned.

If these trends continue, law enforcement will cease to be a neutral force for justice and instead serve as a tool of political enforcement, leading to further erosion of public trust and the breakdown of institutional integrity.

Recommendations

Considering the testimonies of Vincent Gircys and Amrit Birring, as well as the previous National Citizens Inquiry (NCI) reports, the following recommendations can be made to address political influence and institutional constraints on law enforcement in Canada:

1. Enforcement of the Criminal Code to Protect Children:

• Law enforcement agencies must consistently apply and uphold the Criminal Code of Canada to ensure the protection of children from all forms of exploitation, abuse, and harm. This includes:

• Investigating and prosecuting violations related to child endangerment, including those under Section 171.1 (Making sexually explicit material available to children).

• Ensuring accountability for individuals and institutions that fail to act on credible reports of harm to children.

• Removing political and institutional barriers that obstruct the enforcement of child protection laws.

2. Strengthen Police Independence from Political Influence:

• Legislative Reform:

• Separate the roles of minister of justice and attorney general for the federal and provincial governments.

• Amend the Community Safety and Policing Act (Ontario) and other provincial police acts to explicitly prohibit political interference in law enforcement decisions.

• Establish mandatory transparency mechanisms requiring police agencies to publicly disclose any political directives that affect investigations.

• Oversight Mechanisms:

• Create an Independent Police Integrity Unit to investigate cases of political coercion in law enforcement, particularly when officers are prevented from investigating sensitive topics (e.g., Helen Grus' case).

• Create a citizens oversight committees on policing to ensure law enforcement remains independent

3. Protection for Whistleblower Police Officers:

• Strengthen Whistleblower Protections:

• Amend police conduct regulations to include explicit protections for officers investigating misconduct within their own departments.

• Introduce criminal penalties for police executives who intimidate or retaliate against whistleblower officers.

• Create an independent reporting system where officers can submit misconduct concerns outside their chain of command.

4. Address Police Inaction on Sensitive Issues:

• Mandatory Investigation Protocols:

• Enforce strict requirements for law enforcement to investigate all criminal complaints, regardless of political pressure.

• Implement consequences for officers or agencies that fail to act on valid complaints.

• Require police to track and publicly report investigations that were dismissed for "lack of evidence," ensuring transparency and accountability.

• Independent Civilian Review for Unaddressed Complaints:

• Establish a civilian oversight body to audit cases of police inaction when citizens report legitimate concerns.

• Empower the public to appeal police decisions on non-investigated cases.

• Ensure that all provinces have a private complaint mechanism that allows an individual or group of individuals to bring a request for a criminal investigation directly to the court, which can then order and follow-up on it.

5. Reform Law Enforcement Leadership and Recruitment Practices:

• Merit-Based Leadership Selection:

• Reinstate the merit based criteria to hire police officers, instead of diversity, equity and inclusion considerations.

• End politically motivated appointments for police leadership positions.

• Implement public hearings and oversight panels for selecting Chiefs of Police.

• Disqualify candidates with known political affiliations from law enforcement leadership roles.

• Police Culture Reform:

• Ensure that police take an oath to serve and protect the public, reinforcing their duty to act in the best interests of the people.

• Introduce mandatory ethics training to reinforce constitutional rights and nonpartisan policing.

6. Reaffirm the Supremacy of Constitutional Rights in Law Enforcement:

• Mandatory Constitutional Training:

• Require all officers to receive training on constitutional rights and the supremacy clause, ensuring they refuse to enforce unlawful orders.

• Accountability for Past Violations:

• Investigate and, where appropriate, hold accountable police chiefs and government officials who knowingly enforced unconstitutional measures.

• Provide legal amnesty and reinstatement for officers who were removed for refusing to enforce unlawful orders.

◦ Investigation on government actions:

• Alleged crimes by elected officials must be investigated and prosecuted rather than being considered as ethics violations.

7. Re-establish Trust Between Law Enforcement and the Public:

• Public Engagement and Transparency:

• Implement regular town hall meetings where police agencies must answer to community concerns.

• Require police agencies to publicly disclose funding sources, outside advisory influences, and policy changes that impact law enforcement priorities.

• Localized Policing Models:

• Consider adopting an elected sheriff system (as used in the United States), where local communities have direct oversight of law enforcement leadership.

• Decentralize policing to increase local accountability and responsiveness to public concerns.

The testimonies of Vincent Gircys and Amrit Birring, alongside prior NCI reports, reveal a crisis of integrity in Canadian law enforcement. To restore public trust, police independence, and institutional accountability, these reforms must be implemented.

Without meaningful change, law enforcement will continue to be weaponized for political interests, failing in its duty to protect citizens and uphold justice, and thus harming children.