ONTARIO, Canada – The Ontario government recently enacted new private security measures, including stricter regulation of private security guards and professional standards, which may cost colleges and universities thousands of dollars.
According to Macleans.ca, the Private Security and Investigative Services Act now includes mandatory licensing of all security personnel, mandatory training standards and standards for uniforms, equipment and vehicles used by security personnel. The definition of security guard was broadened to include campus jobs such as bouncers at campus bars, campus security personnel, and staff who monitor entrances at residences, which often are students. These student employees will now be considered security staff, requiring proper training and licensing, which may cost up to $900 for each student.
The government has granted a one-year grace period before colleges and universities must implement the changes required by the new law.
This new legislation was in response to the 1999 death of Patrick Shand, who was involved in a struggle at a Scarborough grocery store with an employee, a security guard, and an armored car driver. The latter three were attempting to arrest Shand for shoplifting, but the struggle ended in Shand’s death from restraint asphyxia.
