By Lyndsay Armstrong Nova Scotia’s justice minister has directed police across the province to crack down on illegal dispensaries, prompting criticism that the government may be interfering with law enforcement to target Indigenous communities. In a directive issued Thursday, Justice Minister Scott Armstrong called on all Nova Scotia police agencies to prioritize cannabis enforcement by identifying and disrupting illegal operations and distribution networks. He also wrote to 13 Mi’kmaq chiefs Thursday, requesting their co-operation as they tackle the “growing public safety problem” of illegal cannabis sales. In response, some Indigenous activists say the moves are racist, and one legal scholar says the justice minister appears to be infringing on police independence. Wayne MacKay, professor emeritus of law at Dalhousie University in Halifax, said the justice minister has the authority to…
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