Quebec to hold public inquiry into Val-d'Or allegations

The Quebec government is proposing a public inquiry into police relations in Val-d'Or, Que.,more than a year after police officers there were accused of sexually assaulting aboriginal women.

The news comes as the federal inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women says its two-year mandate isn't long enough to delve into Val-d'Or.

In a letter obtained by Radio-Canada, the commission's executive director, Michle Moreau, said that while the events in Val-d'Or will be part of the national narrative,the mandate of the federal inquiry does not allow for a thorough factual investigationsinto specific cases.

But the commission said that nothing is stopping the province of Quebec from conducting its own public inquiry.

"Such a move would be highly complementary to the mandate and work of the national inquiry."

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Quebec inquiry in the works

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard met with Indigenous leaders Thursdayand proposed to do just that.

"What we can tell you today is that we have made great strides in the early discussions we have had enough progress to say that very soon we can give you more information on how we will proceed," Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux, said after the meeting.

According to Radio-Canada's sources, the commission won't repeat the criminal investigation into some police officers.

The meeting comes one month after it was announced that the six police officers accused of abuse would not be facing charges.

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The officers were suspended shortly after a Radio-Canada story revealed that Indigenous women in the community said they were physically or sexually abused by police.

Thirty-seven women came forward to file official complaints. None led to any criminal charges.

The Sret du Qubec has always denied any wrongdoing and is suing Radio-Canada for $2 million in damages for airing the story.

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"We want an independent judicial inquiry that would have a lifespan of one year that would deal with relations between police officers and members of our community, whichwould also look at the causes and the situations where there is discrimination or systemic racism," said Ghislain Picard, chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador.

"Wehave made substantial progress. We will wait for confirmation from the Quebec government."