The human rights lawyer who oversaw the investigation into allegations of abuse by police officers in Val-d'Or said the investigation was fair, but suggested systemic racism could exist in police forces.

Fannie Lafontaine submitted a 154-page report to the ministry of public security, written after the Montreal police department spent months investigating Sûreté du Québec officers who had worked in Val-d'Or and the surrounding area.

“The criminal allegations that were made in the Val-d'Or crisis and throughout Quebec tend to point to the possible existence of systemic racism - which needs to be documented, and that has never been done…Yes, this issue needs to be looked at. I don’t know whether there is systemic racism, but we need to know. We need to find out,” she said.

The SPVM investigation only covers complaints made until April 2016, and apparently does not recommend charges against any of the SQ officers involved.

A second round of investigations concerning officers working elsewhere is still underway, and there are reports that one officer may face charges.

Lafontaine's report states she believes the SPVM was “impartial” as it investigated 32 complaints out of Val-d'Or, and half a dozen other complaints in Schefferville, Sept Iles and Chibougamau.

“My conclusion is that the Montreal police did an investigation that was fully impartial. There were no conflicts of interests, and fully done with integrity,” she said. “I've had access to the entire investigation and this allowed me to conclude it was done according to the highest standards in a criminal investigation.”

Lafontaine said the investigation showed a "profound social crisis" that will take more than a criminal investigation to solve.

She said her overview of the investigation raises questions about the relationship between police officers and aboriginal women, and suggested there could be systemic racism and discriminatory behaviour within police forces.

“We have to be very careful to not put the credibility of the women in doubt, nor to name and shame police officers,” she said. “The capacity of the criminal process to bring these cases before a judge tells nothing about the veracity or the truthfulness of the initial story, so these women need to be believed. Their credibility is not in doubt.” 

She recommended a consultation process between the government, police forces, and indigenous organizations.

Native Affairs Minister Geoff Kelley said he wants to spend more time dealing with the implications of Lafontaine's report.

"Some of the things Mme. Lafontaine has said are very preoccupying. Any question of racism in the police force is something that has to be examined very thoroughly with my colleague, the minister of Public Security," said Kelley.

"We have to take every measure possible to restore confidence between the police and the communities they serve."

Meantime, a native women's group is calling on the Quebec government to launch a public inquiry into the allegations. Jacqueline Michel with the native women's group said many aboriginal people in the region had lost their faith in Quebec's justice system.

Michel said the community feels betrayed by the system.

"Our hearts are broken in 1,000 pieces," she said, reading a letter co-written by 10 women from the area. "It's as if we weren't seen as important before the justice system of this country, that we don't count, that we weren't listened to."

Michel said women in Val d'Or have mandated a Montreal-based lawyer to look into other legal avenues to pursue those they have accused.

Quebec's Crown prosecutor’s office, the DPCP, is holding a news conference in Val-d'Or Friday to announce the results of the police investigation.

There are multiple reports that none of the police officers accused of assaulting or sexually assaulting aboriginal women will be charged.

Lanfontaine said she expects to hear of charges.

“I would be surprised that there would be no cases that would go forward. I would also be surprised if there were many. According to my looking at the evidence - if you look at my report - out of the 38 cases, there are 21 where no suspects have been identified,” she said.

Read the Independent Observer Report (French only)



With files from The Canadian Press