Trudeau calls out incidents of violence involving police and indigenous persons

In an apparent reference to Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam who said Wood Buffalo RCMP officers beat and arrested him in a Fort McMurray parking lot earlier this year Prime Minister Trudeau says he will open talks with the provinces about police wearing body cameras. He said he believes body Cameras are a sign of transparency on behalf of police forces. He reminded reporters that the Federal government has control of the RCMP, but the provinces control the provincial and municipal forces. He says he spoke to RCMP commissioner Brenda Lucki and called for  for significant, concrete and rapid actions to accelerate change within the RCMP.

He did not directly address questions from reporters about how he could justify taking part in a protest last week when Canadians are still being required to maintain social distancing. Noting that he wore a mask, Trudeau said Canadians feel a need to protest against violence and discrimination against racialized and indigenous Canadians.