The B.C. Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) will open a satellite office in Prince George, making its presence felt in the city for the first time in 10 years.
The new chapter will focus on maintaining fundamental human rights in the northern region of the province.
The BCCLA singled out the RCMP as the main reasons for focusing on Northern B.C.
"The BCCLA has been concerned about repeated issues involving the RCMP in Prince George," stated association president, Robert Holmes, "including allegations around officer involvement with underage, Aboriginal sex workers the investigation of which was foiled by undue delay, the death of Clayton Alvin Willey following repeated blows and Tasering at the detachment, and, most recently, the allegations of J.A. of inappropriate conduct by officers in the area. Prince George deservedly calls itself the capital of B.C.'s north, and is a short distance to Houston (Ian Bush), Vanderhoof (Kevin St. Arnaud), Williams Lake, and Hazelton (Rodney Jackson), all areas and cases of interest to the association."
Supt. Rod Booth of the RCMP's North District headquarters welcomed the BCCLA's foray into Prince George.
"We are always willing to listen, learn and adjust, so if there are things the BCCLA can contribute to that, we are glad to collectively collaborate with them to get to a point where there is a successful resolution to an issue or just adjust the way we conduct our business."
Booth said the BCCLA put a lot of effort into a fact-finding tour of Northern B.C. in late 2010, early 2011 that resulted in a report they named Small Town Justice.
Although often critical of the RCMP and police in general, Booth said he feels no sense of antagonism emanating from the BCCLA and doesn't consider their northern efforts to be provocative.
"Personally I have not had an adversarial experience with the BCCLA and I feel there is a professional manner in the way they bring forward issues and the way they handle responses from the RCMP to the things they bring up," Booth said.
"I can only speak personally, and the irony is, I am working on a draft report in response to the Small Town Justice report, and in many instances we will be asking for their assistance so that some of these issues and allegations can be addressed, stemming from anecdotal discussions at these forums."
The association has many other interests as well, everything from privacy issues to freedom of speech to lifestyle rights such as euthanasia.
The new office will depend on volunteers, said BCCLA officials, calling for "local lawyers, teachers, activists, and others interested in human rights and civil liberties issues" to come forward.
Those wishing to know more are invited to a launch meeting on July 20 at 6 p.m. at the Bob Harkins branch of the public library.
Interested members of the public should contact [email protected] for further details.
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