Lowering hiring standards for Inuit would create ‘2 classes’ of officers: Police chief
Public security committee rejects proposal, which was included in audit of Nunavik Police Service
Nunavik police Chief Jean-François (Jeff) Bernier is pictured at a regional council meeting in May. The public security committee, of which Bernier is part, says different hiring standards would create unequal treatment and exemptions for Inuit police officers. (File photo by Dominique Gené)
Nunavik’s public security committee has rejected two recommendations aimed at increasing Inuit representation in the region’s police force, saying they would create unequal hiring standards.
Police Chief Jean-François (Jeff) Bernier gave an update to regional councillors Tuesday on the committee’s response to recommendations for reforming the police service and rebuilding public trust.
They stem from an audit launched in July 2025 on policing in Nunavik after three fatal police shootings occurred in the region within eight months. A fourth person — a six-year-old girl — died during a police operation while the audit was being prepared.
Released in May, the audit includes 35 recommendations. Twenty-one were supported by the committee, eight were conditionally supported, five were not supported and one received no comment.
One recommendation called for changes to the Quebec’s Police Act to give the regional government more authority to establish its own police hiring standards. Another called for Inuit applicants with certain criminal offences on their record to be exempt from automatic disqualification from employment in the police service.
“We don’t want to have two classes of different police officers. We want full-fledged Inuit police officers with the same benefits, the same mandate and the same line of work,” Bernier said to councillors during the regional government’s quarterly meeting in Inukjuak.
Bernier, who leads the Nunavik Police Service, also represents Kativik Regional Government on the committee, which is co-led by the KRG and Makivvik Corp.
The committee doesn’t agree that the provincial police act should be amended to boost representation. The committee pointed to Article 119 of Quebec’s Police Act, for instance, which requires any convicted officer to be dismissed.
The report also called for a Nunavik-based training facility to be built, which the committee conditionally supports but also says would be costly to operate and not realistic at this time.
The committee fully supports the audit’s call for a shared vision for public safety between KRG and Makivvik, Inuktitut-French-English translation technology, and a four-week, Inuit-led cultural orientation for incoming officers.
The committee is working toward providing in-house training that reflects the realities of policing in the North, such as lessons on use-of-force, Bernier said.
In nearly two years, four people have died in Nunavik in interactions with police.
In November 2024, Joshua Papigatuk died and his twin brother Garnet was badly injured after they were shot by police.
In May 2025, Mark R. Annanack died in Kangiqsualujjuaq after a confrontation with police. In July 2025, James Kavik in Inukjuak died after an incident involving police.
Then in December, a six-year-old girl died and her father Andrew Naluktuk was injured in a police-involved shooting in Inukjuak.
The bureau des enquêtes indépendantes, which investigates cases where people are injured or killed during contact with police, has sent its reports into all four cases to Quebec’s Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions.
In August, the Quebec Crown announced it won’t charge the police officers involved in the 2025 Inukjuak shooting, finding their use of force justified.
No announcement has been made on whether charges will be laid in the other three cases.
During the council meeting on Monday, Salluit Coun. Stephen Grasser asked Bernier for an update on the case involving the death of Papigatuk.
“It’s still an item of major concern here in Salluit,” Grasser said.
In his response, Bernier said that authorities are waiting for a decision from the provincial Crown but that he is also concerned about the delays.
“These delays impact the confidence of the people towards the police service, towards the [bureau des enquêtes indépendantes], towards the Crown and towards the ability of the justice system to do its part,” he said.
Bernier said the committee will work on an action plan and report back to the regional council.
I wound not want to be a cop in nunavik , having to arrest family members and friends , we shoud stick with ” the imports ” .
I don’t think they intend to lower hiring standards for Inuit, I think it’s all about Accountability…these people don’t want to see Inuit working. Your way is NOT working, TRY their way, see how much improvement you see.
In his response, Bernier said that authorities are waiting for a decision from the provincial Crown.
Why that long ???
How come the 2 officers that were involved in the shooting of the twins are still police officers in Puvirnituq and working in the field. I thought when they are being investigated they work in administration, not in the field. And on top of that they still have their side arms. KRG and MAKIVIK CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THEY ARE STILL WORKING IN NUNAVIK ??? ONLY IN NUNAVIK!!! Inuit politicians wake up.
Our politicians don t give a rats a$$ about us !!!!
Alcohol, drugs, and firearms are common in the North, and all too often create situations that put everyone involved at risk, with no good solutions. It is too late for psycho/sociological intervention, decisions are split-second with limited info and options, and the outcome is too often tragic. Inuit culture has never recovered from over 100 years of colonialism, and despair can lead to self-medication and violence — no surprise to anyone. Simply hiring Inuit cops will not change this. You can’t arrest your way out of lack of opportunity, atrocious housing, poor education, unresponsive government, etc.
Try again… There was a time not so many years ago when the regional officers did their job without having
… having the handguns. When it became the standard equipment it was a quick top down decision with prefuctory intent. The decision had been made and going thru the motions was done with no regard for our the public concerns. It won’t change anything now but we have to be more vocal and think of the consequences of those policies and practices that have such potential bad repercussions. Speak and standup to power (political and police administration) and let them know when things like the use of sidearms is not necessary and acceptable. We do not have the American gun culture, you’d have to search long and hard to find a sidearm in Nunavik. We can do fine without them, and trust in policing would over time be returned. Lines have be drawn and it is one.