Winnipeg Sub-Office 105-1555 St.

James St Winnipeg, Manitoba R3H 1B5 Phone: (204) 946-1869 Fax: (204) 946-1871 Toll Free: 1-866-876-9701 www.scoinc.mb.ca Head Office Long Plain First Nation Box 998 Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 0P0

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE MANITOBA LIQUOR ACT WOULD ENCOURAGE RACIAL PROFILING AND VIOLATE HUMAN RIGHTS SAY SOUTHERN CHIEFS ORGANIZATION

WINNIPEG, NOVEMBER.5th, 2013- The leaders of Southern Chiefs Organization (SCO) oppose Bill 43 which contains sweeping changes to the conduct of house parties and who can be in socials and bars. The Southern Chiefs Organization is concerned that the changes proposed by the government of Manitoba to Liquor and Gambling Control Legislation (Bill 43) would encourage racial profiling and human rights violations. The amended Liquor and Gaming Authority (LGA) would provide police officers with the power to remove suspected gang members from a bar, nightclub, or house party. The new rules would also authorize proprietors of bars or nightclubs, and hosts of house parties to make a judgement call based solely on the appearance of those in attendance. Interim Grand Chief of the SCO, Larry Barker stated that while the bill is well intended it may create more problems that it will solve. First and foremost it would would break one of the most fundamental principles of 1 Canadian law: In Canada one is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal. The changes proposed to the Manitoba liquor act is in complete violation with this very basic legal principal said Grand Chief Barker. The proposed changes to the law would also encourage the general public to report house parties attended by gang members. Larry Barker, interim Grand Chief of SCO is concerned that this method of identification of who is a gang member is flawed. How is member of the general public going to fairly identify a gang member? Without a way of recognizing a known gang member, most will probably turn to racial profiling based on their knowledge of what they perceive to be a potential gang members, said Grand Chief Barker. Chief Morris Swan Shannacappo, chair of SCO executive, is worried that the proposed changes would target First Nations: This proposed bill promotes discrimination against First Nations people who are the most visible group in the province and therefore at greater risk of being identified as trouble makers in the enforcement of the new law, said Chief Shannacappo. Chief Morris Swan Shannacappo is questioning the overall impact that this bill could have in the province: How does this improve the working relationships weve been trying to build between First Nations people and the Winnipeg Police Services? Rather than making these social activities safer, the proposed changes may sow the seeds of greater conflict and tensions between our people and other Manitobans. For more information: Chief Morris J. Swan Shannacappo, (204) 226-0193 Chair of the SCO Chiefs Executive Committee

-30-