Hampton wants answers on missing teens

Kenora MPP and former Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton is demanding answers regarding the disappearance of seven Aboriginal teens in Thunder Bay over the past decade.

Hampton asked for the provincial government’s reaction in Question Period Monday. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Chris Bentley responded by saying an inquest is underway, but that was an answer the NDP member was not satisfied with.

“The Attorney General should know that the inquest referred to has been delayed,” Hampton said. “And delayed indefinitely because this government doesn’t seem to be able to get its act together in terms of the representativeness of inquest juries.”

Bentley said the government is taking the situation seriously, and one of the questions that should be asked is if the federal government is doing enough.

“We take any tragedy very seriously, and take the death of young people who travelled to school very seriously,” Bentley said. “We’re working through every ministry and every way to make sure that people are safe .

“There are some very serious questions that need to be addressed.”