Inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women to launch Wednesday

The federal government has chosen a date to announce a formal outline for its upcoming inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.

A source familiar with the planned unveiling, who was also involved in the pre-consultation process, confirmed to Global News that next Wednesday, Aug. 3, will be the day Canadians find out the scope and structure of the long-awaited probe.

Two other sources confirmed that they had also heard the same date, but not directly from the office of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett.

WATCH: Trudeau explains what he hopes will come from inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women

1:57 PM Trudeau explains what he hopes will come from national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women

The details of the inquiry were originally expected in the spring, after Bennett and other government representatives toured the country for a series of pre-consultation meetings with survivors, families and other stakeholders.

Those meetings cost approximately $2.3 million, according to Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC).

“The pre-inquiry process facilitated the attendance of more than 2,100 individuals in 18 face-to-face meetings scheduled across the country in order to seek views on the design of inquiry,” a spokesperson for the department told Global News.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The pre-inquiry process facilitated the attendance of more than 2,100 individuals in 18 face-to-face meetings scheduled across the country in order to seek views on the design of inquiry," a spokesperson for the department told Global News.

“INAC also provided (an additional) $1.2 million to six indigenous organizations to enable them to engage with their members on the development of the inquiry.”

READ MORE: Inquiry challenged to repair relationship between cops, indigenous communities

Budget 2016 committed $40 million over two years to establish the inquiry. That amount does not include the cost of the pre-inquiry design process, department officials confirmed.

According to a draft document obtained by the CBC last week, the focus for the commissioners (who have not been named publicly) will be on violence prevention. That has already drawn criticism from some families and advocates who felt that they should also examine past police investigations into the disappearances or murders of Aboriginal women and girls.

READ MORE: Examine police behaviour in missing, murdered women inquiry, say advocates

The rules surrounding public inquiries in Canada generally forbid commissioners from assigning any criminal fault or civil liability. It remains unclear when hearings will actually begin.