Government’s announced creation of a Policing Transformation Working Group came as a complete surprise to First Voice, an urban Indigenous advocacy group based in St. John’s.

First Voice last year released a report on what it calls systemic issues within the RCMP and recommended phasing out contract policing by RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador by 2030.

Program Director with First Voice, Justin Campbell, says they were very surprised by Justice Minister John Hogan’s announcement this week.

He says the first they heard of the province’s plans was from news reports. It came as a surprise particularly given the “significant amount of work First Voice has already done on policing and police oversight.”