Quebec’s premier says the provincial government isn’t rejecting calls for an independent, provincial inquiry into relations between indigenous people and police.
Philippe Couillard is being careful not to commit to anything, but has signaled for the first time since news broke in 2015 that women in a northern town accused police of abuse, that his government is open to launching an inquiry.
“Let’s go for dynamic relations between the public institutions and the First Nations,” Couillard said.
“Of course with the police, but also with the social services, the judicial administrations – there are so many aspects to handle,” the premier added.
Shortly after meeting with the chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, Ghislain Picard, Couillard said his government must find “concrete and practical” answers to the concerns of native leaders.
“Nobody in Quebec – and even less so the indigenous people – wants to embark in a lengthy four, five years procedure,” he said.
“Isn’t it better to invest into services, in being active on the ground?”
Couillard’s government has been under pressure from the opposition and native groups to open an independent inquiry after native women in Val-d’Or accused six Sûreté du Québec officers of abuse.
An investigation into the allegations by the Montreal police did not result in any charges against the six officers stationed in the town, located 530 kilometres northwest of Montreal.
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