March 29, 2024

Irked group quits inquiry

Another wheel has fallen off the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry as Pivot Legal Society announced it wants no part of the proceedings.

Irked by the repeated denial of legal-aid funding to several other Downtown Eastside women, aboriginal and sex-trade organizations, Pivot lawyer Douglas King announced yesterday his group no longer feels “needed or wanted.”

“The last thing you want is a public inquiry that doesn’t seem fair, and that’s what is happening in this case,” King said.

He said Pivot would rather focus their resources on community initiatives — one of which they’re announcing today — rather than take part in an inquiry where so many stakeholders are denied legal aid by the government.

To date, six groups have withdrawn their participation in the inquiry.

The Missing Women Commission of Inquiry is tasked with looking into the police investigation of serial killer Robert Pickton.

Commission lawyer Art Vertlieb released a statement saying most of the groups given standing at the inquiry will participate once proceedings get underway Oct. 11.

Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver

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