THE rewriting of the provincial Police Act now underway could play a key role towards healing a rift between police and aboriginals, Manitoba's justice minister says.
But Dave Chomiak warns there's more to identifying and fixing problems individuals and interest groups have with police oversight and accountability than new legislation will allow for.
The complete overhaul of the Act -- which has only been slightly amended once or twice since the 1930's -- comes at a time when angry aboriginal leaders are clamouring for more input into police oversight and a full review of Winnipeg police practices after the police-involved death of a young native man two weeks ago today.
Craig McDougall, 26, was shot and killed by police after officers said he refused to drop a knife he was brandishing outside a Simcoe Street home.
In the wake of the shooting, chiefs Jerry Knott and Robert Flett said they want an independent investigation into the man's death and a public inquiry into how police treat aboriginals.
Others have called for an aboriginal police commission to oversee complaints made against police officers.
Chomiak said the relationship between police and aboriginals is a 150-year old problem that won't be erased overnight, nor will it be repaired through words or new laws.
'It's only going to be changed through trust," Chomiak told the Free Press.
But the manner in which the new Police Act is developed and written could go a long way to building that trust, Chomiak added.
"It's only a component. A new Police Act isn't going to solve the problems we have with poverty, unemployment and distrust. That will only be solved by actions."
Fair portions of the new Act have already been drafted, but have not yet been approved by cabinet, nor have they been held out for public scrutiny before being brought forward as government policy. Chomiak hopes the legislation can be introduced in the spring.
"All the decisions haven't been made, all of the options are on the table," he said.
Chomiak said he deliberately mentioned the overhaul of the Police Act in the days following McDougall's death to quell criticism that there was no process in place that the police investigation would be open and transparent.
By law, the findings of local homicide investigators must be reviewed by an outside police agency and an independent Crown attorney before a public inquest is held.
"The dilemma last week was that I couldn't speak to the facts -- we still don't know the facts of (McDougall's death) and so, let's deal with the issue -- if there is an issue -- when the facts come out," Chomiak said.
james.turner@freepress.mb.ca
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