QUESTION PERIOD — Crown-Indigenous Relations
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls--National Action Plan
June 3, 2021
Honourable senators, my question is for the government leader.
Today the Trudeau government finally responded to the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls — two years, leader, after it was released.
On Tuesday, the Native Women’s Association of Canada said they were tired, and rightfully so, of waiting for the Trudeau government’s action plan, so they released their own. It states in part:
Indigenous women wanted cold cases to be reopened. They wanted to know what had happened to their missing and murdered loved ones. . . . They wanted perpetrators to be brought to justice.
I asked about the RCMP investigations into these cases in an Order Paper question last year. The answer I received in December pointed to two cases resolved by the Yukon RCMP and the conclusion of three open cases by the British Columbia RCMP.
What is your government doing, leader, to assist the RCMP in resolving even more cases?
Thank you for your question. The RCMP is doing its work diligently, independent of the government, as it should. I’m not aware of any particular details that are relevant to your question. I certainly will make inquiries.
I’ll take the opportunity, on behalf of the government, to thank all of the organizations that participated with the federal government in the development of this action plan. It’s the first step — only the first step — toward further work that needs to be done as set out in the plan to address this shameful and tragic circumstance.
Leader, we should never forget that behind each investigation or case that we speak of is a family who needs help and wants answers.
The answer your government provided to me six months ago stated that the RCMP in British Columbia, Nunavut, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon have reviewed related investigations since the final report of the national inquiry was released two years ago.
Leader, since I received the answer to my question in December, has the RCMP resolved any other cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls? If so, how many? Has this resulted in any arrests or charges laid?
Senator, thank you for the question. It’s an important one.
Had I had some notice in advance, I might have been in a position to provide the information. That’s not a criticism by any stretch of the imagination. I simply don’t know the answer. I’ll endeavour to find out as quickly as I can.
