The Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN) is developing a training portal for use by front-line law enforcement officers across the country.

CPKN, which is based in Charlottetown, was created in 2004 through a partnership between Holland College and the Canadian police Community.

The training portal features three courses related to the incoming Cannabis Act, Bill C-45, which will lay out the regulations regarding legal use of cannabis in Canada.

Sandy Sweet, president of CPKN, said the portal will provide police services with a cost-effective way to deliver training to their personnel by using the resources online, eliminating the expenses related to traveling to receive training and allowing officers to take the training at times convenient to them.

“The three courses will provide law enforcement officers with the information that they will need when Bill C-45 is enacted,” Sweet said, noting that the federal government has not yet confirmed when the bill will come into effect. It is expected in late summer or early fall.

“We are preparing as much information in advance of the roll-out of the legislation as possible, but we know that we will need to tweak the courses depending on any alterations that may be made to the Act before it comes into force.”

CPKN will customize the training according to the laws in each jurisdiction and will consult with each province and territory in advance of the legislation to ensure that all law enforcement professionals will receive information applicable to their particular area.

CPKN is also consulting with the RCMP and Canadian Association of Police Chiefs to ensure that all of the training available to law enforcement officers is consistent and accurate regardless of which organization is delivering it.

In addition to the courses, the CPKN portal will provide case studies as they develop following implementation of the Act, an Ask an Expert section, and other resources related to Bill C-45.

“The implementation of Bill C-45 is one of the most significant legislative changes in Canada and is bound to create concern on the front lines about how to enforce the new laws. Our goal is to provide the information law enforcement professionals need in a timely and cost-effective manner,” Sweet said.

In this picture: CPKN president Sandy Sweet looks over the development of the training modules with Evan Jackson and Chris MacEachern (left). Both Jackson and MacEachern are Holland College graduates. Photo: Sidney Reid.