Tories reverse stance on inquiry into missing, murdered women

There was generally positive reaction both on and off Parliament Hill on Tuesday as the federal government announced the first steps it will take toward creating a national public inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.

Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Carolyn Bennett and Minister of Status of Women Patty Hajdu were all on hand to unveil a plan to consult with the families of the missing and murdered in the coming weeks in hopes of coming up with a framework for the eventual inquiry.

The consultations are expected to be finished by the spring.

A change of heart among Conservatives

In Question Period on Tuesday afternoon, Kamloops MP Cathy McLeod formally expressed “our support” for the Liberal plan on behalf of the Conservative Party.

Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose, meanwhile, has also said she will support the formation of the inquiry, in spite of the fact that the previous Conservative government’s position was that such a commission was unnecessary and potentially wasteful.

Former prime minister Stephen Harper refused repeatedly to call an inquiry, arguing that investment in programs and services to help indigenous women, and criminal justice reforms to deal with violence against people generally, was a better approach.

NDP says they’re on board

NDP MP Romeo Saganash struck a mostly cooperative tone in his remarks following the announcement, saying “the NDP is ready to collaborate with the government on subjects that we have in common. And this is a subject we have had in common for a long time.”

Saganash, who is Cree, also said that in some ways, he understands why few details about the final structure of the inquiry could be provided on Tuesday. But many questions remain.

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The timing of the inquiry, the full budget (and when it will kick in) and the question of whether the inquiry will have full powers to subpoena witnesses and gather evidence are “questions that we need to examine,” Saganash noted.

“We are ready to collaborate … because it is such an urgent matter.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We are ready to collaborate … because it is such an urgent matter."

Aboriginal organizations react

The reaction among groups representing Aboriginal Peoples across the country was overwhelmingly positive. The president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, Dawn Harvard, attended Tuesday’s announcement personally, and tweeted her support of the endeavour almost as soon as the press conference ended.

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President Natan Obed, currently attending the climate change conference in Paris, said his organization is “encouraged to see the government announce an open, transparent and fulsome process … which involves engagement with victims’ families as well as Inuit, First Nations and Metis representative organizations.”

Also attending the conference in Paris was Chief Dwight Dorey of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. In a prepared statement, he said he was “uplifted” by the announcement.

 “The government has taken a bold step in addressing this national tragedy. The plight of our 1,200 grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters, cousins and friends has been ignored for far too long,” Dorey said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter:  "The government has taken a bold step in addressing this national tragedy. The plight of our 1,200 grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters, cousins and friends has been ignored for far too long," Dorey said.

True change “has to be grassroots”

Jane Dickson-Gilmore, a professor in the undergraduate law program at Carleton University in Ottawa who specializes in First Nations issues, said the consultative process in itself should make a difference for families and indigenous groups. Once the inquiry actually starts, some may also be called to testify.

“One of the things that is really significant in healing in indigenous communities is the opportunity to tell your story,” Dickson-Gilmore explained. “The families need to share the story of their lost sisters and mothers and daughters because it is through the telling of the stories that those individuals will live on.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "One of the things that is really significant in healing in indigenous communities is the opportunity to tell your story," Dickson-Gilmore explained. "The families need to share the story of their lost sisters and mothers and daughters because it is through the telling of the stories that those individuals will live on."

The implementation of the recommendations will be key, she added, and along the way there must be efforts to improve housing, access to clean drinking water, and support services for women. Those improvements will only work if the government and First Nations communities work together, she noted.

“True change in communities has to be grassroots. The communities know best the challenges they face.”