The Heiltsuk Nation has filed a lawsuit against the RCMP, claiming its Charter rights have been violated because the police refuse to enforce their local bylaws. The lawsuit, filed in British Columbia’s Supreme Court, highlights the community’s ongoing crisis with drug trafficking, overdoses, and sexual violence, which they argue has worsened due to the RCMP’s inaction. The Heiltsuk Tribal Council contends that when non-Indigenous municipalities or businesses request enforcement of laws, the RCMP responds promptly. However, when the Heiltsuk Nation, an Indigenous government, makes the same request, it is ignored.
The lawsuit asserts that this refusal to act amounts to discrimination, violating the community’s section 15 Charter rights, which guarantee equal protection and benefit of the law. The Heiltsuk say this lack of enforcement has allowed dangerous activities like drug dealing to continue unchecked on their land in Bella Bella. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs echoed concerns that this issue is not isolated to the Heiltsuk Nation but is widespread across Canada. He warned that this failure to enforce bylaws undermines the rule of law in First Nations communities and makes it nearly impossible to tackle problems like drug trafficking and violence effectively.
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