The Project

The Coalition of Families Affected by Police Violence is undertaking a project to advance meaningful reform of police accountability laws in Manitoba. Specifically, the project focuses on two pieces of legislation in Manitoba:

The Police Services Act, which governs police accountability and complaint processes
The Fatality Inquiries Act, which governs inquests

To achieve this goal, the project combines research, community engagement, and legal analysis.

Research

The project began with research exploring how inquests and police accountability systems operate in Manitoba and other jurisdictions.

The research covers three areas:

1) Inquest systems

We are examining the history and development of the inquest system in Manitoba, with a focus on its intended preventive function. We are also comparing Manitoba’s system with those in other Canadian and common law jurisdictions to identify models that more effectively produce recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths.

2) Systemic police complaint bodies

We are examining police accountability systems that allow for complaints about systemic practices, rather than only individual officers. In Canada, these powers currently exist in limited form in British Columbia, Ontario, and within the federal oversight of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

3) Indigenous legal processes

Preliminary research suggests that systemic investigative processes that are inquisitorial, focused on truth-seeking, and oriented toward public safety rather than blame share important similarities with Indigenous legal traditions. As such, we are exploring Indigenous legal processes related to deliberation, truth-finding, and community decision-making.

Engagement

Central to the project is extensive consultation with communities affected by police violence.

In 2026, the Coalition is meeting with Indigenous governance organizations, community groups, affected families, legal experts, and researchers.

The goal of these engagements is not simply to gather input. It is to build a clear, collective foundation for reform — grounded in lived experience, supported by evidence, and capable of driving legislative and structural change.

Report

The project will culminate in a final report containing proposed legislative amendments to reform the Fatality Inquiries Act and the Police Services Act.

The report will be based on what we learn during the research and engagement phases of the project. It will be publicly released and shared with communities, organizations, and the Government of Manitoba. The Coalition will seek to meet with government officials to discuss the proposed reforms and the steps required to implement them.