WINNIPEG – The province has removed a prominent indigenous activist from the Winnipeg Police Board.
Leslie Spillet, an inner-city activist, along with Angeline Ramkisson, are no longer the provincial appointees.
The Pallister government made the move in a July 6 Order in Council.
In a statement to Global News Spillett wrote “I am always concerned when the voices and perspectives of Indigenous people are diminished or excluded in these processes and I think unfortunately that this is the case with the WPB.”
Spillett said she was not notified by the province of its decision but instead found out through Facebook.
“In this era of reconciliation, I would think that governments, irrespective of political stripe, would be working hard to engage and include Indigenous individuals.”
Alicja Szarkiewics, who ran for the Tories in Logan during the spring election, and Larry Licharson, are the new appointees.
There is now just one indigenous person on the seven person board.
In a statement the Minister of Justice, Heather Stefanson, said their new provincial appointees also bring a wealth of experience.
“Our government is working hard to assemble a versatile and experienced group of appointees who will bring valuable input to the direction of the province’s multiple boards. Serving on the board of the Winnipeg Police Service is a tremendous responsibility and one that will be carried out with integrity by the new provincial appointees, Larry Licharson and Alicja Szarkiewicz,” Stefanson wrote.
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