An "explosive" letter from Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth to the RCMP over the Coastal GasLink protests contradicts Premier John Horgan's assertions that provincial governments don't direct the police.
So say the BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA), Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) and Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs, who released Farnworth's letter today, along with a press release that suggests the letter confirms the Horgan government was directing the RCMP on the enforcement of a court injunction against Coastal GasLink pipeline protesters.
Except it doesn't.
In fact, the letter is a response to the RCMP's request for more officers and it reaffirms the RCMP's independence when it comes to making operational decisions.
In their joint press release, the chiefs, BCCLA and UBCIC cite a letter from Farnworth to Jennifer Strachan, deputy commissioner of the RCMP's E Division.
In the letter, Farnworth declares a provincial emergency in order to authorize the RCMP to redeploy officers from outside the Houston RCMP detachment, including from municipal forces, if necessary, in order to enforce an injunction issued by the BC Supreme Court.
It's clear from the letter that Farnworth was responding to the RCMP's request for more policing resources, not directing the RCMP to take action.
"As you state, opposition to the pipeline construction near Houston, BC has intensified and evolved and the local jurisdictional police do not have sufficient resources to deal with this situation," Farnworth writes. "I am satisfied that this constitutes a provincial emergency."
Farnworth authorizes Strachan to temporarily draw in RCMP officers from outside the Houston detachment.
"This explosive revelation of the BC Solicitor General authorizing additional RCMP resources and redeployment comes on the heels of repeated statements by the provincial government that they lacked jurisdiction or authority over RCMP actions in Wet'suwet'en territories," the joint press release states.
The release cites a Global News story in which Horgan is responding to pressure to do something about the pipeline protests.
"Our government has no authority to vary that injunction, nor to direct the RCMP in the fulfillment of its responsibilities," Horgan is quoted as saying in the Global News story.
Farnworth's letter to Strachan is characterized as contradicting Horgan's assertions on police independence.
"Farnworth sat silently while Premier Horgan unabashedly lied that the province did not direct RCMP actions," UBCIC Grand Chief Stewart Phillip says in the press release. "This is an act of government deceit not only against the Wet'suwet'en but of the public at-large."
In fact, not only does Farnworth not contradict the premier - he reaffirms what Horgan said about police autonomy. He was simply granting a request, as solicitor general, from the RCMP to free up more resources.
"The operational deployment of resources and operational decisions are solely within the internal management and control to the RCMP," Farnworth writes, "however I ask that you please continue to inform the ministry of the planned actions and any further developments through the established channels between the executive Policing and Security Branch of the RCMP staff."
The RCMP, a federal police force, provides provincial policing service to BC through the Provincial Police Service Agreement between the province and federal government.
In an email to Business in Vancouver, the ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General explained that it's the minister's responsibility to ensure that police have the resources they need, but that it is entirely up to police how to use those resources for enforcement.
"It's the Solicitor General's responsibility to ensure police have adequate resources to maintain public safety, including enforcement of court orders. This is something that is built into the Provincial Police Service Agreement, in the event of an urgent, temporary situation. In the past it has been used to RCMP assistance during the wildfires.
"It is police discretion whether an enforcement action happens, how it is enforced, and when it is enforced. The minister does not participate, view or authorize the operational enforcement plan."
"To be clear, no elected official in British Columbia directs police operations," Farnworth said in the statement to Business in Vancouver.
