QUESTION PERIOD — Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Support for Women and Children Experiencing Violence
May 15, 2020
Honourable senators, Senator Boyer and I have a question for the Government Representative.
The violence against Indigenous women in this country was documented in detail in the federally commissioned National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls which was released almost a year ago now.
The cycle of generational violence that stems from the residential schools and coercive colonial legislation is well known today. We know the COVID-19 pandemic has made already vulnerable populations more at risk. The government had promised to put in place a national action plan in response to the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls inquiry by this June.
Senator Gold, in light of the pressures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, what extra measures will the government put in place?
Also, can the government respond more rapidly given the gravity of the situation for many Indigenous women and children?
Finally, when will we see the promised action plan? Thank you.
Again, thank you and your colleague for the question. It’s an important one and one that the government takes seriously.
I’ve been assured by the government that it remains committed to doing what it can to end what is an ongoing national tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. My understanding is that the government, along with Indigenous organizations and provincial and territorial governments, are working together to co-develop the national action plan to which you referred, that will set out a roadmap to end the systematic and systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, LGBTQ2 and two-spirit peoples.
The work remains a priority for this government. But, as you know and as you alluded to, the focus has shifted in recent weeks to try to slow this spread and halt the spread of COVID-19 in Canada generally, and in particular in Indigenous communities, and to make sure that those communities have the support that they need because so many, by virtue of their relative isolation from centres, are particularly vulnerable for community spread if it arrives in their neighbourhoods.
As part of that commitment, the government is investing $50 million to support shelters and sexual assault centres for women and children fleeing violence, and includes targeted funding for facilities serving the Indigenous communities.
With regard to your question as to exactly when, I don’t have the answer. I will make inquiries. I don’t want to speculate beyond the fact that the focus of the government is, understandably right now, on the impact of the pandemic on those communities.
