TRUDEAU WANTS MOUNTIES TO USE BODY CAMERAS, PLANS TO ALSO BRING IT UP WITH PREMIERS
Jun 08, 2020
By Bob Komsic
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Days after attending an anti-black racism rally on Parliament Hill, Justin Trudeau says Ottawa knows much more has to be done and quickly to tackle violence against black Canadians as well as Indigenous people.
In the wake of new allegations of racism and police brutality as the debate of use of force intensifies, the prime minister thinks it’s time for the RCMP to begin wearing cameras.
”It is something that is, in my opinion, what we need to move forward with,” Trudeau said.
He raised the issue Monday morning with Commissioner Brenda Lucki who assured him she’ll use all available tools to act quickly.
Trudeau says he also intends to bring up the idea of police officers across Canada wearing body cameras with the premiers and territorial leaders during their weekly, virtual meeting Thursday, ”so we can move on it as quickly as possible.”
Mayor John Tory says use of body cameras is expected to be on the agenda of July’s Toronto police services board meeting and that officers might be wearing them by late summer.
Police Chief Mark Saunders vowed to ”fast-track” their use soon after 29-year-old Regis Korchinski-Paquet fell to her death from a 24-floor balcony during an interaction with police May 27.