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RCMP destroyed police records from the night Colten Boushie died

The RCMP racially discriminated against Colten Boushie’s family when they were notified of his death, a CRCC report to be released publicly Monday says

www.theglobeandmail.com

The RCMP destroyed records of police communications from the night Colten Boushie died and conducted a parallel internal probe into the handling of the case without notifying the civilian watchdog, according to a report from the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission.

The CRCC expressed “disappointment and frustration” with the police decision to destroy recordings and transcripts of radio traffic between officers who responded to the fatal shooting of Mr. Boushie, a 22-year-old Cree man, in August, 2016.

The CRCC also said it has “serious concerns” that it wasn’t told about a separate, simultaneous RCMP internal investigation into the handling of the case.

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When the CRCC requested records of police communications such as radio and telephone calls on the night Mr. Boushie died, the RCMP said the records had already been destroyed. They were deemed to have no evidentiary value to the criminal investigation, the RCMP said, and were disposed of in August, 2018, two years after the events in question, in keeping with records retention policy.

The CRCC investigation, however, was announced in March, 2018, less than two years after Mr. Boushie’s death. Mr. Boushie’s family also began a civil action against the RCMP before two years had elapsed. Recordings of police communications would have been relevant to both of those cases and should have been preserved, said counsel for Mr. Boushie’s mother, Debbie Baptiste.

“They knew there was a civil case. They knew there was an investigation by the CRCC. They knew the family was calling for an inquiry and yet they go and destroy the communications from that day,” said Eleanore Sunchild, Ms. Baptiste’s lawyer. “That is unacceptable.”

The recordings would have particular relevance to aspects of the investigation that dealt with how police notified Ms. Baptiste of her son’s death. The police maintain they took a tactical approach to encircle her home and then search the premises because they believed that one of Mr. Boushie’s companions may have been inside and armed.

The CRCC found that surrounding the house with officers carrying carbines wasn’t in keeping with a reasonable risk assessment, nor was it appropriate or compassionate in the circumstances. After Ms. Baptiste collapsed in tears on hearing the news of her son’s death, an officer asked if she’d been drinking. One or more officers smelled her breath. The CRCC said those actions were insensitive and linked to a stereotypical understanding of Indigenous peoples, which led to the finding of racial discrimination.

The RCMP also proceeded to search the family home, which the CRCC said was unreasonable and unlawful.

Gazan: Basic Income must be in addition to strengthening social safety net, not gut it

MP for Winnipeg Centre

www.leahgazan.ca

TREATY 1 TERRITORY, WINNIPEG—NDP MP Leah Gazan is sounding the alarm on Liberal Member of Parliament Julie Dzerowicz’ private member’s Bill C-273, National Strategy for a Guaranteed Basic Income Act introduced last week, indicating another study is not needed and that the legislation opens the door to replacing our current social safety net, with something that could potentially lead to greater levels of poverty.

“Basic income has been tried and tested in Canada and elsewhere, including the 1970 Mincome project in Winnipeg, Dauphin, and other rural locations in Manitoba. We do not need more studies, we need action. What we need is a plan to implement a guaranteed livable basic income, setting out the various steps needed, and an ambitious timeline for their accomplishment.” said Gazan. “Although I am pleased that income guarantees are becoming part of the political discussion, they must be designed in a way that lifts people out of poverty.”

In August, Gazan introduced Private Member’s Motion, M-46, which calls on the federal government to convert the Canada Emergency Response Benefit into a permanent Guaranteed Livable Basic Income. Motion 46 was developed alongside Basic Income Canada Network and Basic Income Manitoba, which included academics involved in the 1970 Mincome project.

Most concerning to Gazan is article 3d(i) of Bill C-273, which provides the option for the federal government to gut the current social safety net, something she has indicated could be devastating.

“Advocates for guaranteed income have been clear that the extension of income guarantees in Canada must be in addition to current and future income supports meant to meet special, exceptional and other distinct needs and goals, rather than just basic needs,” said Gazan. “We need to build on our current social safety net not reduce support for individuals residing in Canada. It must not fall below the floor set by Motion 46.”

“Ms. Dzerkowicz should amend her Bill to make clear that any guaranteed basic income program put in place should strengthen the social safety net, not cutting the support people receive, said Gazan.