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Review critical of arrest of Indigenous man and granddaughter in opening bank account

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VANCOUVER — A retired judge who led a disciplinary hearing against two police officers has found they “demonstrated serious, blameworthy conduct” when they “recklessly” arrested an Indigenous man and his granddaughter who were trying to open a bank account in Vancouver.

In his 69-page decision, Brian Neal writes that Maxwell Johnson and his granddaughter, who is a minor, endured a “disturbing and profoundly disrespectful series of events” as they were held and handcuffed on a busy street in front of the bank.

Neal says he “substantiated” two allegations of misconduct against the constables who made the arrests. The report says Johnson and his granddaughter were arrested without good and sufficient cause, and that unnecessary force was used by applying the handcuffs.

Neal’s decision is dated Jan. 28 and was released Wednesday by the Heiltsuk First Nation, of which Johnson and his granddaughter are members.

The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner ordered the independent review after an initial investigation by Delta police found disciplinary action against the officers was not warranted.

In an emailed statement, deputy police complaint commissioner Andrea Spindler says that on March 17, Neal imposed a period of suspension, retraining and ordered the officers to issue an apology

It says the officers and the complainants have a right to request a review if they are dissatisfied with the decision and the timeframe for such a request to the commissioner has not yet expired. As a result, the statement says this matter has not been concluded by the commissioner.

A lawyer for the officers could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Vancouver Police Department said in a statement it respects the decision and referred specific questions to the commissioner’s office, adding that because there is a human rights complaint underway in the case it would be “inappropriate to comment further.”

Johnson and his granddaughter travelled from Bella Bella in December 2019 to open an account but were detained and handcuffed after presenting their Indigenous status cards at the Bank of Montreal in downtown Vancouver. The review says Johnson was a long-standing client of the bank.

The two officers who responded to a call from bank employees detained Johnson and his granddaughter without reasonable grounds, says Neal’s report.

“No reasonable police officer standing in the shoes of the two officers could support such actions based on suspicion alone,” he wrote.

“This decision has also found that the cultural safety needs of Mr. Maxwell and his granddaughter, Indigenous persons who found themselves under scrutiny by police, were simply not considered by the officers in question. In the result, two vulnerable persons of Indigenous heritage were exposed to unnecessary trauma and fear, and left with a serious perception of unfairness in their treatment at the hands of police.”

The report says the adjudicator wants to hear from both sides about corrective measures.

Marilyn Slett, chief councillor of the Heiltsuk Nation, said it has invited the officers to Bella Bella to participate in an apology ceremony with Johnson and his granddaughter.

“This story has become a symbol of the fight against systemic racism, and we are committed to working with the officers to make broader change and ensure this never happens again,” Slett said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2022.

 

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End of Manitoba legislature session includes replacement-worker ban, machete rules

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WINNIPEG – Manitoba politicians are expected to pass several bills into law before the likely end of legislature session this evening.

The NDP government, with a solid majority of seats, is getting its omnibus budget bill through.

It enacts tax changes outlined in the spring budget, but also includes unrelated items, such as a ban on replacement workers during labour disputes.

The bill would also make it easier for workers to unionize, and would boost rebates for political campaign expenses.

Another bill expected to pass this evening would place new restrictions on the sale of machetes, in an attempt to crack down on crime.

Among the bills that are not expected to pass this session is one making it harder for landlords to raise rents above the inflation rate.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024

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Father charged with second-degree murder in infant’s death: police

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A Richmond Hill, Ont., man has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of his seven-week-old infant earlier this year.

York Regional Police say they were contacted by the York Children’s Aid Society about a child who had been taken to a hospital in Toronto on Jan. 15.

They say the baby had “significant injuries” that could not be explained by the parents.

The infant died three days later.

Police say the baby’s father, 30, was charged with second-degree murder on Oct. 23.

Anyone with more information on the case is urged to contact investigators.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.

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Ontario fast-tracking several bills with little or no debate

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TORONTO – Ontario is pushing through several bills with little or no debate, which the government house leader says is due to a short legislative sitting.

The government has significantly reduced debate and committee time on the proposed law that would force municipalities to seek permission to install bike lanes when they would remove a car lane.

It also passed the fall economic statement that contains legislation to send out $200 cheques to taxpayers with reduced debating time.

The province tabled a bill Wednesday afternoon that would extend the per-vote subsidy program, which funnels money to political parties, until 2027.

That bill passed third reading Thursday morning with no debate and is awaiting royal assent.

Government House Leader Steve Clark did not answer a question about whether the province is speeding up passage of the bills in order to have an election in the spring, which Premier Doug Ford has not ruled out.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.

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