Unfortunately, while I have spoken frankly and from the heart to the Winnipeg Police Board in
private, consistent with my position in this statement, they have accepted the recommendation
of the Indigenous Council on Policing and have asked Mayor Bowman to remove me as Police
Board Chair. For this reason, I am offering my resignation to the Mayor.
If there was confusion for what I said in Council in December, I have said I am sorry. I meant no
harm or offence to any individual or group. In these supposed days of openness and
transparency, and continued new and growing taxes, I felt that if training is to be paid for by
taxpayers, I wanted to fully know where said funds were coming from and how much it was
going to cost. My framing of the issue was less than eloquent, and for that I apologize.
Like many in Winnipeg, my family story is one of immigration. Most immigrant groups have been
exposed to racism, bigotry and prejudice.I deplore andoppose all forms of racism. It is for this
reason that the bigotry and hate that those of Indigenous descent face today is a blight on us all.
I believe in an inclusive society that respects and treats people fairly and equitably regardless of
race, religion, sexual orientation, economic status or ability. In a meeting in late December with
the Indigenous Liaison Committee of the Police Board, which I felt was very positive, Im ade a
commitment to work with the Indigenous Council on policing to find ways to reduce the
disproportionately high number of Indigenous people involved in the criminal justice system.
Building stronger community relations between the Police service and the Indigenous
community has to be a priority. I also believe that police need to uphold laws and that they
should apply to everyone. The application of the law must be blind to race and gender.
The one item of contention in my meeting with the Indigenous Liaison Committee was that they
took offence to my suggestion that if members of any community break the laws of the land they
should be held to account. Shauna Fontaine, Co-Chair of the Committee replied that these
weren't "their" laws. The fact is, in Canada we have one set of laws, and they apply to all
citizens and visitors equally.
Let me be clear. I have over and over again stated my position that all groups and individuals,
no matter race or creed or colour, are equal and should be treated with equal rights under the
law and by our community. Clearly I am not as sophisticated as the Mayor on Indigenous
issues, but I know right from wrong and that is why I serve. My commitment to take the City's
residential school training stands, and I am committed to taking it in March. I love my family. I
love my community. I love North Kildonan. I love Winnipeg. I look forward to continuing to serve
North Kildonan and all of Winnipeg.