Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver – The First Nations Summit is pleased with yesterday’s announcement by B.C. Attorney-General Mike de Jong, that there will be a public inquiry into the investigation and events leading up to the arrest and conviction of Robert W. Pickton and a broader examination of the manner in which cases involving missing women are investigated.
“Throughout the Pickton investigation and trial it has become evident that the public at large is very concerned about the extreme delay in the time it took to start the police investigation into the disappearance of women from the downtown eastside, many of whom were from First Nations communities around this province”, said Grand Chief Edward John, a member of the First Nations Summit political executive. “In the interest of public safety and regaining confidence in the justice system by BC First Nations and all British Columbians, we welcome and look forward to the long overdue public inquiry into the investigation and events leading up to the arrest and conviction of Robert Pickton”.
“Although, Mr. Pickton has been tried and convicted of his heinous crimes, there remain many unanswered questions regarding how the justice system failed the victims” said Chief Doug White, also a member of the Summit’s political executive. “At the end of the day, the public inquiry must be inclusive of the victims’ families and the outcomes must lead to changes preventing similar breakdowns in similar investigations such as those into the missing women along the Highway of Tears in northern BC”, he added.