'They don't care about diversity': London, Ont., politicians slammed for police board appointment

Politicians who voted to appoint a white Liberal staffer and former mayoral campaign manager to the London Police Services Board in southwestern Ontario are putting political favours and relationships over the needs of the city's diverse communities, critics say. 

Ryan Gauss, who works for London North Centre Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos and ran Mayor Josh Morgan's campaign in last October's municipal election, was appointed to the police board Tuesday night with a total of eight votes, from city councillors and the mayor.  

Gauss beat out 53 other candidates who applied. They included two diverse candidates who failed to get the majority of votes required for the appointment. 

"City Hall's decision is sending a very strong message to the BIPOC community, and what they're saying is they don't care about merit, they don't care about diversity, the status quo applies and it's going to apply as long as City Hall has the power to make sure it continues," said Susan Toth, who stepped down from the police services board in January.

Toth, a human rights and labour lawyer, had called for her replacement to be Black, Indigenous or a person of colour. 

"They are telling communities of colour, Black and Indigenous communities that they do not have an important voice when it comes to policing." 

Gauss told CBC News that putting his name forward for the police board was about public service.

"I thought it was a way I can give back to the community." 

The board provides direction and oversight into police operations, including the budget. The current board is in the midst of selecting a new police chief. It has one diverse member, Ali Chahbar, a lawyer.  

I think this will make it harder to build the kind of relationships that are necessary for true reconciliation.- Joe Wabegijig

Gauss has done a lot for the community, but city councillors missed an opportunity to choose a diverse candidate from a pool of talented candidates, Toth said. 

"I think it's a very, very sad day. The London Police Services Board has gone from being one of the most diverse boards in Ontario to one of the least diverse, especially for a city the size of London," she said. 

One of the fastest-growing communities in the country, according to Statistics Canada London's population was at around 515,000 in 2022. 

In the first round of voting for Toth's vacated position, with 54 candidates, Mayor Morgan chose Zeba Hashmi, a community worker who ran as a Liberal candidate in the recent provincial election and sits on several boards in the city.

In the second round of voting — a choice between Gauss, Hashmi and Joseph Wabegijig, executive director of Atlohsa Family Healing Services and a member of the Wikwemikong Tribal Police Services Board — Morgan switched his vote to Gauss. 

"This is a mayor that I have heard previously say that diversity is critical and really important to him and his vote indicates the contrary," Toth said.

Morgan explains his vote

In explaining his vote on Wednesday, Morgan pointed out his first-round vote for Hashmi. 

"I thought she was the best candidate, council didn't agree with me. With her no longer an option I moved to who I felt was the best qualified candidate, which was Ryan Gauss," he said. 

"Diversity is obviously a very important issue for our city and it's something that I'm fully committed to," he said. "I think there are many good candidates that we could have chosen from." 

Morgan also pointed out that final vote to finalize Gauss's nomination passed unanimously. The mayor also pointed to his past votes in favour of Toth.

Prior to the start of voting, councillors were given the option of speaking in favour of any specific candidates or choosing a process in which candidates were nominated individually, but none did.

'Prioritizing political favours'

City politicians could have chosen someone who has a deep understanding of issues facing the Indigenous community when it comes to law enforcement and justice, Wabegijig said. 

"Unfortunately, city council and the mayor are prioritizing political favours and relationships over community needs," he said. "I also think this will further erode trust between Indigenous communities and the police, and make it harder to build the kind of relationships that are necessary for true reconciliation." 

Morgan should have recused himself from casting a ballot instead of voting for his campaign manager, Wabegijig added. Gauss said the mayor's integrity "speaks for itself" and he is qualified for the position. 

Hashmi said Gauss is qualified, but council missed an opportunity to appoint someone who is diverse. She personally reached out to members of London's Black community encouraging them to put their names forward. 

The appointment still has to be officially approved by full council.

Elizabeth Peloza was the only councillor absent from Tuesday's vote. Toth encouraged city councillors to rethink how they vote

"They still have an opportunity to do the right thing," Toth said.

Speaking directly to councillors, she said: "You are not doing anybody any favours by keeping the same historical inequities in place and you have an opportunity to again put London on the map, to show the world that London is a modern city, that London is not just a small town doing the same old thing the way it's always been done." 

It is painful for communities of colour to keep asking for representation, Toth added.