WENDAKE, QC, March 18, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The police services in 26 First Nations communities in Quebec will be interrupted this coming April 1st if Canada and Quebec do not reach an agreement.
"Although the federal minister finally announced last week that the First Nations Policing Program (FNPP) was to be renewed for five years, we now learn that things are still not working out, this time between Canada and Quebec, regarding the implementation conditions. This means the signing of 18 tripartite agreements governing the police services in 26 of our communities has once again been compromised. The AFNQL Chiefs see no end to this quagmire, which creates a situation for which our populations have to pay the price. Enough is enough!" said AFQNL Chief Ghislain Picard indignantly.
"Today, I am calling on the federal Minister for Public Safety, Vic Toews, and his provincial counterpart, Stephane Bergeron, to get this matter under control. What the AFNQL Chiefs are demanding is clear and simple: we want to see first of all the immediate signing of tripartite First Nations-Canada-Quebec agreements for a one-year period. Then, over this one-year period, the AFNQL Chiefs will conduct a review of their police services and the conditions governing these services, and we expect the federal and provincial ministers to participate in this review. The safety of our populations might not be a priority for other governments, but it is a priority for our First Nations governments, which have every intention of carrying out their responsibilities. Safety is our primary concern! Once we meet that goal, we can take care of the administrative hassle," concluded Chief Ghislain Picard.
About the AFNQL
The AFNQL is the regional organization of the 43 chiefs of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador. For more information: www.apnql-afnql.com.
SOURCE: ASSEMBLY OF FIRST NATIONS OF QUEBEC AND LABRADOR
Mélanie Vincent
(418) 842-5020
(418) 580-4442
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