Special Committee Report Fails Indigenous Women and Girls

March 7, 2014

OTTAWA – The report tabled today by the Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women fails to provide a tangible action plan that will address the ongoing human tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada, said Liberal Aboriginal Affairs Critic, Carolyn Bennett.

“Today’s report is completely inadequate,” said Dr. Bennett. “The Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women was mandated to develop a meaningful plan to bring justice to those who have been murdered or gone missing, as well as to create an action plan to deal with this ongoing tragedy. Neither of these objectives was addressed by the Committee’s final report.”

The Committee’s report completely ignored the recommendations from countless witnesses and stakeholders calling for a national public inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, a recommendation that the Liberal Party believes must be the first step in working towards a solution for this ongoing tragedy.

“We made great efforts – the international community, provincial and territorial premiers, and thousands of Canadians demanding justice for our stolen sisters. Unfortunately, today I see the extent to which this government is ignoring our expertise, our recommendations, and our solutions for the well-being and safety of Aboriginal women,” said Michèle Audette, President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada. “Despite our disappointment with the report, I would like to acknowledge Dr. Bennett for her efforts. She has worked tirelessly to achieve justice for the victims and their families.”

The Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women was established by a Liberal Opposition Day motion in February 2013 to address the disproportionate number of Indigenous women and girls who have suffered violence, gone missing, or been murdered over the past three decades.

“It is deeply disappointing to see that, once again, partisanship has trumped public service,” concluded Dr. Bennett. “That this report only contains recommendations approved by the government – and does not reflect the testimony of witnesses – is in flagrant disregard of Parliamentary principles.”