The New Brunswick government is changing course on holding a public inquiry into systemic racism against Indigenous people in the justice system.
“We are fully supportive of an Indigenous-led inquiry on systemic racism,” Keith Chiasson, the province’s Indigenous Affairs minister, told reporters at the legislature Wednesday.
That’s a change since the previous Progressive Conservative government, which opposed an inquiry that First Nations leaders sought after fatal police shootings six years ago.
Sitansisk Chief Allan Polchies told reporters 13 First Nation chiefs recently met with Premier Susan Holt and Chiasson, where the inquiry was discussed.
“Yes, it will happen, and it’s going to be led by Indigenous folks that are of course going to be able to get all the answers that are needed for this important topic,” Polchies said at the legislature.