Chairperson of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP has issued a response to #Wetsuweten Hereditary Chiefs,@UBCIC and @bccla call for an investigation regarding the actions of the RCMP in in Wet’suwet’en territory.Press conference in 30 min. 
Getting ready to start. The Chairpersons response will be released momentarily .
The CRCC for the RCMP says the issues raised in the complaint are of “significant public interest”.But at this point a “public interest investigation” will not be initiated.#Wetsuwetan #RCMP
Here are the first couple pages of Chairperson Lahaie’s response. It was highlighted by @bccl and handed out before presser.
Chairperson Lahaie says this is not because the issues are not important but because the Commission has in the past conducted an extensive investigation into “many of the same issues” in its Kent County report. #Wetsuwetan
Chairperson Lahaie says it is not in the public interest to launch a new investigation because “the Commission has already provided extensive guidance to RCMP” #wetsuweten #RCMP
Chairperson Lahaie says this was done “by way of interim findingsand recommendations” made in the Kent County report . #Wetsuwetan #RCMP
Molly Wickham,of Gidimt’en Clan of Wet'suwet'en Nation,is one of the speakers today via phone.She says there is great distrust in the announcement that the RCMP will leave and she says there is no evidence so far of them leaving territory. #Wetsuweten #RCMP
Harsha Walia, Executive Director of @bccla says the #RCMP actions are unlawful.She also says the RCMP have had the Chairperson’s Kent report for more than a year and have yet to act.”It is unacceptable that RCMP continue to harass” and target she says. #Wetsuweten
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond Akikwe, Director of UBC’s Indian Residential School History,says the Chairperson’s letter is troubling because issues have been raised about #RCMP policing of First Nations people (Kent report)for over a year and there has been no response from RCMP.
Ta’Kaiya Blaney, Indigenous Youth for Wet’suwet’en,now speaking.She says “we call upon Canada” and all levels of government to be accountable to the demands of the #Wetsuweten people.
“RCMP has a long legacy of terrorizing and exploiting indigenous lands” says Ta’Kaiya Blaney. #Wetsuweten
Ta’Kaiya Blaney says they will continue to peacefully occupy places until the #Wetsuweten demands are met. #RCMP
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of @UBCIC , now speaking. He says “the RCMP actions” are only protecting @CoastalGasLink and not the broader community. #Wetsuweten
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip says “I want to hold my hands up to all youth who have courageously stood up” across the country.”We need to redefine what this country stands for”. #Wetsuweten #RCMP
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip also reminds people that #TMX is looming. He says action against that #pipeline will be just as strong and just as explosive . #Wetsuweten #RCMP
David Suzuki, Cofounder of David Suzuki Foundation, says “Canada is a nation built on extraction” of resources but there has been no real plan to protect them for future generations. “This must change.” #Wetsuweten #RCMP
