Category Archives: Justice

Justice

RCMP are frustrated, too 

Originally published on qathet Living

At the RCMP Detachment on Barnet Street, the phones ring all day and night Police officers get an average of 18 calls a day asking for service – many of them reporting new Criminal Code violations that they want addressed. 

In qathet in 2021, there were 1,655 crimes reported. Many categories of crime are up over 50% in four years. They include assaults, break and enters, criminal harassment, possession of stolen property – crimes that appear in Isabelle Southcott’s main story. 

Continue reading RCMP are frustrated, too  →
Animals, Justice, Tourism

Scuba diver fined $12K for getting too close to killer whales

By Kaitlyn Bailey,  Prince Rupert Northern View, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A provincial court judge has fined a scuba diver $12,000 for getting too close to a pod of killer whales near the Prince Rupert Harbour – the largest fine to be ordered for this type of offence.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada said Aug. 22 that Thomas Gould, a scuba diver and owner of a commercial dive vessel, knowingly entered the water too close to a pod of seven northern resident killer whales near Prince Rupert Harbour on Apr. 25, 2020.

Continue reading Scuba diver fined $12K for getting too close to killer whales →
Indigenous Nations, Justice

Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs hosted a Peace and Unity gathering. RCMP made arrests

By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

This week Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs welcomed a delegation from across the country and beyond to the yintah (territory) for a Peace and Unity Summit. Through the four-day event, the chiefs brought together Indigenous leaders, politicians, conservation groups and others to uplift Indigenous sovereignty, share space and join in solidarity with the Hereditary Chiefs in their opposition to the Coastal GasLink pipeline.

“It’s really heartwarming to see all the people coming together in peace and unity across Canada to maintain the solidarity of the Wet’suwet’en,” Dinï ze’ (Hereditary Chief) Madeek told attendees at the event.

“You make history by being peaceful. By being here, being together, being united, knowing that we all have the same heart,” Dinï ze’ Na’Moks said.

Arrests weren’t part of the plan.

Continue reading Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs hosted a Peace and Unity gathering. RCMP made arrests →
Indigenous Nations, Justice

‘Justice for Jared:’ Family of Indigenous man killed by RCMP demand justice a year later

CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

Note: This story contains accounts of police violence, racism and hate against Indigenous people that could be triggering. Please listen with care.

Laura Holland, of the Small Frog house, Wet’suwet’en, sets up the hall at Homalco Nation for a memorial on July 7. The day marks a year since her son Jared (“Jay”) Lowdnes was killed by Campbell River RCMP.

Continue reading ‘Justice for Jared:’ Family of Indigenous man killed by RCMP demand justice a year later →
Justice

RCMP handling of Argenta arrests draws joint policy complaint

Editor’s note: There have been many complaints about the RCMP Community-Industry Response Group, particularly in regard to police brutality, racism, their use of exclusion zones and attempting to muzzle the press. According to the account in the Narwhal, a 75 year-old Argenta resident delivering eggs to the protesters was arrested as she attempted to leave. The camp’s legal observer was also among the 17 people arrested. 20 of the 35 protesters were residents of Argenta and Johnson’s Landing, a handful were veterans of the Fairy Creek protests.

By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A joint policy complaint has been filed by seven groups against the RCMP for the handling of the arrests made at the May 17 logging protest near Argenta.

The B.C. Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) and six other groups submitted the complaint on July 21 against the RMCP’s Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG) for alleged “egregious behaviour and unlawful arrests” made at a protest area at Argenta-Johnson’s Landing.

Continue reading RCMP handling of Argenta arrests draws joint policy complaint →