HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s three main party leaders are calling on the federal government to launch a national public inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women.
In a joint statement, Liberal Premier Stephen McNeil says the death of Loretta Saunders is a tragic reminder of a serious issue.
Saunders, a 26-year-old Inuit woman from Labrador, was studying at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax when she disappeared last month.
READ MORE: Calls for inquiry at vigil for murdered Halifax woman Loretta Saunders
Her remains were found by the side of a New Brunswick highway two weeks later and two people face first-degree murder charges in her death.
A special parliamentary committee has been studying the issue of missing and murdered aboriginal women, but Nova Scotia Tory Opposition Leader Jamie Baillie says the time has come for a full-fledged national inquiry.
NDP Leader Maureen MacDonald says Saunders’s death highlights what she calls a troubling pattern of violence that needs to be addressed by all levels of government.
University group pleased with news of potential for inquiry
The Social Activist Law Student Association at Dalhousie University was pleased to hear the news that the premier will call on the federal government to hold an inquiry.
The association had already been holding a letter writing campaign Thursday called the red envelope campaign.
The campaign has people signing letters, which will be sent in red envelopes, that ask the premier to continue calling on the federal government for an inquiry and to reinstate federal funding to the Sisters in Spirit database, which tracks statistics on violence against aboriginal women.
Mary-Elizabeth Dill said that even though McNeil has now thrown his support behind the cause, the campaign is far from over.
“Our intention here is to actually ensure the government feels increased pressure. The death of Loretta Saunders has been a tragic reminder of the real and terrible impact of this pattern of violence against Indigenous women,” she said.
“We just want to ensure the premier understands he has a mandate from here in Halifax and from Nova Scotians generally to increase the pressure on the Canadian government to call this inquiry.”
About 300 red envelopes have been collected so far.
Dill said the association will mail them Saturday, which is International Women’s Day.
Women’s association applauds provincial support
Cheryl Maloney, president of the Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association, said she received an email from the province with the news Thursday.
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“I applaud the province of Nova Scotia. I’m pleased our government is being responsive to the concerns of the people,” she said.
“I think it’s great Nova Scotia has taken this strong approach and is sending a clear message to the federal government. I applaud and welcome other provinces to do the same.”
Maloney said she is encouraged by the news that an inquiry has provincial support. She is unsure whether the federal government will be receptive but she is trying to remain optimistic.
“I think the tide is changing. I really think the Loretta Saunders case opened the eyes of Canadians. I think the work and advocacy that has been done since then from all kinds of groups and organizations speaking up is starting to pay off.”
The call for an inquiry is not new — in June 2013, premiers of all provinces unanimously supported an inquiry.
*with files from Global News’ Julia Wong
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