The Honourable John Hogan, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General, today announced that Harriet Lewis will conduct an independent workplace review of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.
Ms. Lewis holds a BA (Hons) and MA from York University and an LLB from the University of Toronto. As a lawyer with more than 25 years experience she has a background in mediation and governance. She recently completed a term as a member and the President/Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Psychology Foundation of Canada. A complete biography for Ms. Lewis can be found in the backgrounder below.
The review will examine workplace culture and governance practices of the provincial police service. The workplace review is anticipated to take six months and will require the candid participation of uniformed officers and civilian employees of all ranks and positions.
This review is not an investigation. There are other formal independent complaint-based mechanisms in place to file complaints against police officers. Civilian oversight of police actions, like those carried out by the RNC Public Complaints Commission and the Serious Incident Response Team, help to maintain accountability and transparency.
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“We are committed to continuous organizational improvement across all government departments and agencies, including the RNC. This review will ensure a healthy workplace at the RNC to allow the delivery and enhancement of policing services. I look forward to receiving Ms. Lewis’ report as we continue to focus on the safety of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and to ensure trust in the RNC.”
Honourable John Hogan
Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General
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BACKGROUNDER
Biography of Ms. Harriet Lewis
Harriet Lewis graduated from York University with a BA (Hons) and MA in English, and from the University of Toronto Law School with an LLB.
After 11 years in private practice, Ms. Lewis returned to York as its first General Counsel. She later assumed the additional role and responsibilities of the University Secretary, overseeing the governance of York’s Board of Governors and Senate, the university’s licencing program, and its compliance with FIPPA, the AODA and The Copyright Act. She was also a member of the University’s senior executive team and of numerous administrative committees.
During her time at York, among other things, Ms. Lewis was Secretary and a board member of the York University Development Corporation, a member and Chair of the Board of the Canadian Universities Reciprocal Insurance Exchange (CURIE), the President of the Canadian Association of University Solicitors, and the Chair of the Council of Ontario Universities FIPPA Task Force. She was also a University Affairs columnist on legal matters.
She is a graduate of the Harvard Law School Program in Mediation for Lawyers, the Harvard School of Continuing Education/National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) workshop for university counsel, and the Rotman School of Management/ICD Directors Education Program and Not-for Profit Directors Program.
Ms. Lewis has been recognized by the Women’s Executive Network as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada, by the Canadian Association of University Solicitors with its John Hackett Award for Service, and by York with a Bryden Alumni Award. On her retirement from York she was further recognized by the establishment of the Harriet Lewis Team Award for Service Excellence.
Since stepping down from full time employment, Ms. Lewis has maintained a non-practicing membership in the Law Society of Ontario and continued her engagement with the Canadian university community as a speaker on matters of university law and governance and as a consultant on university governance and policy matters.
She recently completed a term as a member and the President/Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Psychology Foundation of Canada, and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the International Festival of Authors at Harbourfront.
Ms. Lewis is a member of the University of Toronto Non Academic Discipline Tribunal and a part time member of Tribunals Ontario: Licensing Appeals Tribunal, Animal Care Review Board and Fire Safety Commission. She was formerly a member of the Ontario Parole Board.