National

Trudeau expresses confidence in RCMP commissioner amid racism debate

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Jun, 2020 06:17 PM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expressing confidence in RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki after the top Mountie said she is struggling with the definition of systemic racism.

Lucki made the comments during several media interviews on Wednesday in response to allegations of bias and discrimination within the federal police force and others across the country.

Green party Leader Elizabeth May became the latest to level such allegations against the RCMP, calling it a "racist institution" during a news conference on Parliament Hill this morning.

May compared the way she was arrested during a pipeline protest in B.C. in May 2018 to the treatment of Indigenous protesters earlier this year as evidence of bias.

Trudeau says he has worked closely with Lucki over the years and that he trusts the commissioner to lead reforms at the RCMP.

Trudeau says systemic racism exists in institutions across the country, including the RCMP and other police forces, and that they must do better to ensure fairness for all Canadians.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Man wanted for murder in B.C. extradited back to Canada say police

Police say a man wanted in connection with a first-degree murder charge in British Columbia has been extradited back to Canada. Sgt. Frank Jang of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team in British Columbia says Brandon Teixeira arrived back on Canadian soil on Friday, after being held in custody in the United States since Dec. 1 following his arrest in Oroville, Calif.

Man wanted for murder in B.C. extradited back to Canada say police

COVID kills dozens more nursing home residents; emergency payouts top $22.4B

Dozens more deaths in long-term care homes were reported Friday as new figures indicated the extent of the economic dislocation caused by isolation measures aimed at mitigating the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 virus. The latest government figures showed more than seven million people had applied for the $2,000-a-month Canada Emergency Response Benefit, with the federal government having paid out $22.4 billion close to the amount budgeted.

COVID kills dozens more nursing home residents; emergency payouts top $22.4B

U.S. seals the deal on USMCA, says trade agreement can now take effect July 1

The United States has cleared the way for its long-awaited trade agreement with Canada and Mexico to go into effect July 1. The U.S. notified its North American trading partners today that it has finished the domestic housekeeping work called for in the agreement, a step the other two countries completed earlier this month.

U.S. seals the deal on USMCA, says trade agreement can now take effect July 1

Poultry plant in Coquitlam, B.C., closed by health authority over COVID-19

A poultry processing plant in Coquitlam, B.C., has been closed by Fraser Health after an outbreak of COVID-19 among its workers. The health authority says two workers at the facility operated by Superior Poultry Processors Ltd. have tested positive for the virus and all employees have been screened.

Poultry plant in Coquitlam, B.C., closed by health authority over COVID-19

Expectant mothers to get financial help: Feds

Expectant mothers who have been left out of a key COVID-19 emergency-aid program will receive financial help, and will qualify for federal benefits when they go on maternity leave, says Canada's employment minister. Pregnant women who applied for employment insurance at the outset of the pandemic have found that they weren't automatically transferred over to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit when it became available earlier this month.

Expectant mothers to get financial help: Feds

Trudeau unveils rent relief for small businesses hurt by COVID-19

The federal government is providing rent relief to businesses that can't afford to pay their landlords at a time when their operations are seriously curtailed or shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal help, expected to lower rent by 75 per cent for affected small businesses, will be provided in partnership with the provinces and territories, which have jurisdiction over rents.