Activist groups are objecting to the lack of plans for a provincial inquiry into the relationship between police and Indigenous women.
“It’s another way, I think, of delaying justice and I think it’s very irresponsible of them,” said activist Ellen Gabriel.
On Wednesday, the provincial government announced Quebec will be participating in the Federal inquiry in missing and murdered Native women, rather than holding its own.
Gabriel said handing responsibility to the federal government is disrespectful to the victims of sexual harassment in Val D’Or. Aboriginal women in that town allege that Surete du Quebec officers committed acts of assault, sexual misconduct and other abuses.
Eight officers were suspended over the allegations.
“The Cree nation, they have been asking for justice for their citizens and I think Quebec is not respecting that,” she said.
Native Affairs Minister Geoff Kelley commented on the controversy while announcing $100,000 in financial aid for the Aboriginal Projects of Quebec.
“At the end of the day, because there are so many overlapping jurisdictions, I think one group looking at it, in their recommendation saying, the province you can do more of this, the federal government, you can do more than that,” he said. “The thing is, to prevent violence against women, that’s the goal. So it’s not a question of cost. Obviously, doing two commissions would cost more than one, but that wasn’t the consideration.”
