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Those factors make it inevitable that police encounters feature Indigenous people who have been drinking. Problem drinking is virtually a way of life in many deeply troubled Indigenous communities. Police encounters with inebriated people are dangerous and volatile situations; situations most likely to lead to tragic results. Police officers are entitled to protect themselves first in dangerous situations, and confronting Indigenous people over potential crimes and poor behavior has the unfortunate effect of hardening attitudes.

The situation is a highly complex problem that should not be blamed on any one party, and recommendations coming from a one-sided report will likely do more harm than good. By scapegoating police and ignoring the complexity of the situation, the only people likely to benefit will be those who are able to collect some of the “government money” that will inevitably be thrown at the problem.

Some of the spotlight should shine on the chiefs running First Nations communities. It is not the fault of either the police officers or the city politicians that so many of the people coming from those communities have so many problems. Chiefs and band councillors are well-paid to manage those communities. Is it not reasonable to ask them to account for the fact that so many of their constituents do so badly?

But, regrettably, Gerry McNeilly’s Report does not ask Indigenous politicians any tough questions. This has been the history of many one-sided inquiries into Indigenous-related issues. The formula remains simple: victimhood culture with Indigenous people as victims.

The blame always goes to others and nothing changes. And, nothing changes as long as this simplistic formula is followed.

Brian Giesbrecht is a former judge, now a senior fellow at Frontier Centre For Public Policy.