‘Apologies are not enough’: BMO to start Indigenous Advisory Council
Posted January 16, 2020 2:04 pm.
Last Updated January 16, 2020 2:05 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — The Bank of Montreal is setting up an Indigenous Advisory Council, acknowledging people are “disappointed and angry” with it after its involvement in the arrest of an Indigenous girl and her grandfather at a Vancouver branch.
RELATED: Arrest of Indigenous girl, grandfather at Vancouver BMO prompts investigation, mayor demands accountability
The council will be made up of Indigenous members from various parts of the country.
This comes as a response to Vancouver Police putting a 12-year-old girl in handcuffs last month after an employee reported the girl and her grandfather for possible fraud.
In a statement, BMO chief executive Darryl White says he recognizes “apologies alone are not enough,” saying the bank should not have contacted police.
.@bmo CEO issues apology re: allegations of #racialprofiling on December 20th when 12-year-old and her grandfather arrested by @VancouverPD. This, after they tried to open joint account at #Vancouver bank and were accused of fraud. @NEWS1130 https://t.co/p7wgy9UTKe
— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) January 16, 2020
“People are disappointed and angry with us, and I don’t blame them. Part of building a truly inclusive culture involves being honest with ourselves when we fall short of those standards,” White says. “An Indigenous customer was not treated with the respect or trust that BMO customers deserve. He entered our branch to open an account for his granddaughter and they were escorted out by police. This is unacceptable.”
The bank plans to educate its staff on Indigenous peoples’ history while the council will provide input to improve initiatives impacting Indigenous communities as put forward by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
RELATED: BMO apologizes after Indigenous 12-year-old girl and grandfather reported to police by staff
“I recognize apologies alone are not enough. The buck stops with me. I know we have to do better and we will do better. Creating this council is an important step,” White says.
BMO issued an apology last week on social media.
The VPD also issued a statement saying they attended the call of a “fraud in progress”
