Wolastoqey Nation chiefs say they’re disappointed the premier is ignoring calls from within his cabinet to establish a public inquiry into the police killings of two Indigenous people in New Brunswick.
Earlier this summer, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Jake Stewart told reporters he supported an inquiry into the deaths of Chantel Moore and Rodney Levi during RCMP wellness checks.
In a release issued by Wolastoqey Nation leaders Monday, they say they are disappointed with what they call Premier Blaine Higgs’ stubbornness on this issue.
“The Premier’s refusal to accept aboriginal policy advice from his minister of aboriginal affairs creates a bigger problem for him,” the release, issued by Chiefs Ross Perley, Alan Polchies Jr., and Patricia Bernard, reads.
They say that under the principle of cabinet solidarity, the premier can’t disagree on government policy with the cabinet minister, and their disagreement must be resolved.
The release quotes Minister Stewart deferring to Premier Higgs while reaffirming his position.
“At the end of the day, the premier and I just disagree. He’s the boss, he’s the premier. I gave my opinion, I made it very public, I stand by it. I’ve never changed my opinion.”
Premier Higgs has not wavered on his stance to refer any inquiry to the federal government.
The chiefs cite regional scholars that say that it is the Higgs government’s responsibility to handle inquiries on policing within the province.
