WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government is promising to fully co-operate with the national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women, but is also a bit disappointed with one aspect of the plan.
Justice Minister Heather Stefanson says it is disappointing that none of the five commissioners leading the inquiry is from Manitoba, given the province’s large aboriginal population.
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But, she says, the province feels it’s important that the inquiry move forward.
Stefanson also said she hopes the inquiry can avoid duplicating inquiries held in Manitoba, such as the $14-million one into the death of Phoenix Sinclair.
READ MORE: Key events in the Phoenix Sinclair case
Phoenix Sinclair was beaten to death at the age of five after falling through the cracks of the province’s child welfare system.
The provincial inquiry into the case led to 62 recommendations to improve the child welfare system, including the high number of indigenous kids in care.
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“It’s up to the inquiry as to what they want to do and we will co-operate with them, but our hope is that the focus will be on the results here and to ensure that life is better for indigenous women in our province and across the country,” Stefanson said Wednesday.
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