COAST SALISH TERRITORY/VANCOUVER, B.C. – The First Nations Leadership Council is pleased with today’s decision by Mr. Justice Melnick in the Supreme Court of BC to provide the Commissioner in the Frank Paul Inquiry the full ability to review Criminal Justice Branch (CJB) documents pertaining to the Paul case and if necessary, require individuals who were with the CJB at the time of Mr. Paul’s death to give evidence.

In his decision, Mr. Justice Melnick states;

However, in my view, in the narrow and possibly unique circumstances here, if the written expression of the will of the Lieutenant Governor in Council and of the Attorney General has not been effective in waiving both Crown immunity and solicitor-client privilege, then the result is manifestly unfair to the public in general and to a significant group of interested citizens, namely the Aboriginal population and the Paul family.