THUNDER BAY – Canada's new Liberal government will announce it will be conducting a long-sought inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls on Tuesday.
Indigenous women and girls are overrepresented among missing and murdered women in Canada according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A 2014 RCMP report showed nearly 2,000 indigenous women to be missing and murdered, 1,017 of which were murdered.
Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Carolyn Bennett’s department will lead the inquiry but there will be a supportive role for Patty Hajdu, the Minister for the Status of Women and MP for Thunder Bay-Superior North.
On Monday, Hajdu rose in the House of Commons for the first time to respond to questions on the issue.
“Murdered and missing indigenous women is a national tragedy that not only affects women but their families and their communities,” she said.
“We intend to move incredibly quickly and with a great deal of respect. We will do this by ensuring we work with families and communities and national stakeholders to make sure we get it right the first time.”
The inquiry’s announcement will come a week before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission will deliver its final report on the legacy of residential schools.
