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  • Schreiner statement after Premier spoke out against defunding the police

QUEEN’S PARK — Mike Schreiner made the following statement:

“The biggest mistake we can make right now is close ourselves off to meaningful conversations about how to defend the lives of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour who are dying in police interactions.

70% of those who died in police confrontations between 2000 and 2017 in Canada were struggling with mental health or substance abuse.

The intersection between race and mental health far too often leads to tragic outcomes when armed police are the first responders.

We must listen to the growing chorus of racialized communities and mental health experts calling for changes to how we help people in mental distress.

If the Premier truly believes that systemic racism is a problem, then he must put everything on the table to fix it, including directing funds to where they will more effectively keep people safe.

I am disappointed that the Premier is shutting down an important conversation about how to save the lives of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour.”

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