The independent observer tasked with overseeing an investigation into the alleged abuse of Indigenous women in Val-d’Or, Que., by provincial police officers concluded the process was “fair and impartial” in a report made public Wednesday.
Fannie Lafontaine, a human rights lawyer and the Canada Research Chair on International Criminal Justice and Human Rights at Université Laval, was appointed last November by Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard to act as a civilian auditor of the investigation.
Montreal Police led the investigation, which brought out concerns that it would not be a fair process since it would be one police force investigating another.
On Tuesday, sources told CBC’s French-language service Radio-Canada that Crown prosecutors will not charge six Quebec provincial police officers alleged to have committed assaults and other abuses.
The officers have been on paid suspension since the investigation began in October 2015, after a report by Radio-Canada’s investigative program Enquête.
The Crown has scheduled a news conference Friday to make its findings public.
More to come.