Staff
The Liberal Indigenous caucus is applauding the Government of Canada’s recent steps in launching the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).
“Today is a historic day; it is another step towards reconciliation and ending this national tragedy,” said Indigenous Caucus chair and Thunder Bay—Rainy River MP Don Rusnak.
“I applaud the work of Minister Bennett, Minister Wilson-Raybould, and Minister Hajdu, and of the families of the victims who fought so hard to make this inquiry happen,” he added.
“I am confident that the members of this commission will handle the Inquiry with the great care that it requires,” noted Rusnak.
“The team they have assembled has the personal and professional experience to get at the root causes of the unacceptable level of violence against our Indigenous women and girls. Our communities have waited a long time for such decisive action to be taken on this file,” he said.
Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice, and Patty Hajdu, Minister of the Status of Women, announced the commission members and terms of reference of the inquiry yesterday.
The Commission will be made up of The Honourable Marion Buller, who has been appointed Chief Commissioner, Michèle Audette, Qajaq Robinson, Marilyn Poitras, and Brian Eyolfson.
They will study the cultural, social, institutional, economic, and historical causes of the disproportionate violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada.
The National Inquiry will be conducted in full collaboration between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments.
