OPSEU/SEFPO members are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting that took place during court proceedings at the Wapekeka First Nation in July, and we send our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Tyresse Roundsky.
This tragic incident has exposed long-standing and serious deficiencies in courthouse security across Ontario. In northern and fly-in communities, makeshift courtrooms are commonly set up in motels, schools, and community centres. These spaces often lack critical safety measures like metal detectors or screening, leading to preventable safety incidents. Appropriate safety measures, including point-of-entry screening and weapons detection, are urgently needed.
“Our members have been raising the alarm on these safety issues for years. They cannot continue to work in unsafe conditions. The government must act now to ensure that every courthouse in Ontario is a safe place for workers, the public, and anyone accessing the justice system,” said JP Hornick, OPSEU/SEFPO President.
OPSEU/SEFPO joined unions and associations representing workers in courthouses in calling on the Ministry of the Attorney General and the Ontario government to take immediate steps to ensure all court proceedings take place in proper, secure facilities with the resources necessary to protect everyone involved.
“The OPSEU/SEFPO MAG MERC and the employer have been hearing from members about the dangerous conditions in courtrooms for more than a decade, stretching back to the Court Security Survey conducted by OPSEU/SEFPO in 2014. These concerns are not isolated – a lack of security and real efforts to make members feel safe in their workplace are problems across Ontario courtrooms,” said Loretta Clark, Co-Chair of the OPSEU/SEFPO MAG MERC. “We have repeatedly raised these issues with the employer, but conversations have continued without any real action. Real security measures, real commitments to ensure health and safety, and real protection of all Ontario justice participants must be addressed through robust entrance protocols, no matter the location.”