October 10, 2019—Ha-Shilth-Sa—Page 13
Loved ones and members of the extended Tla-o-qui-aht community held a walk for Lisa Marie Young on June 30, 17 years after the young woman went missing without a trace in Nanaimo.
This year the Missing and Murdered Inquiry into Indigenous Women and Girls concluded, but Aboriginal women continue to go missing and fall victim to homicide at a significantly higher rate than the Canadian average. Beyond the inquiry, what else needs to be done to make this country safer for Indigenous women?
Courtenay – Alberni Byron Horner, Conservative In partnership with Indigenous peoples, a new Conservative government will develop and implement a National Action Plan, to advance reconciliation, address violence and achieve measurable improvements in the day-to-day lives of Indigenous women and girls. Examples of recommendations that could meaningfully improve the lives of Indigenous women and girls: - Standardization of protocols for policies and practices that ensure that all cases are thoroughly investigated. - Establish a national task force to review and, if required, to reinvestigate cases across Canada. - Ensure protection orders are available,
accessible, promptly issued and effectively serviced and resourced to protect victims. Jonah Gowans, Liberal The Inquiry lays out 190 pages worth of recommendations. To start I think any leader should read the entire report and be prepared to work to fulfill every recommendation in there as the report is well thought out. I think fundamentally what the report shows is how systemic violence against aboriginal women is. So to make Canada safer for Aboriginal women you need to value Aboriginal women. Systemic violence means the system allows it. If Aboriginal Women are valued society would not allow violence on this level to exist. So to start, every leader needs
Cowichan – Malahat – Langford Blair Herbert, Liberal Liberals are committed to ending this tragedy. The job now is to develop a national action plan – as called for by the Inquiry – to implement its recommendations. Beyond the Inquiry, Blair sees two more avenues to pursue. Firstly, as a previous RCMP officer himself, he believes the Inquiry was a wake-up call for national and local police forces, mobilizing them to improve their investigation into missing indigenous women and girls. Secondly, he believes the Federal government needs to work to remove barriers and open doors for
Aboriginal women to access education and employment, providing them greater options for their future. Alistair MacGregor, NDP Working in partnership with Indigenous women, the families of the missing and murdered, and communities, the NDP will work to implement the Inquiry’s 231 Calls for Justice and the calls to action brought forward by communities. We also need to guarantee the human rights and dignity of Indigenous Peoples in Canadian law. I was proud when my NDP col-
North Island – Powell River Rachel Blaney, NDP After the Conservatives refused to address the tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women for almost a decade, the Liberal government finally launched a long overdue inquiry – but then set it up with a limited mandate, and failed to adequately care for the families who courageously shared their stories. The Inquiry’s finding of a genocide against Indigenous women in Canada demands action from all Canadians. I will work in partnership with Indigenous women, the families of the missing and murdered, and communities to implement the Inquiry’s Calls for Justice and the calls to
to value Aboriginal Women.
communities.
Sean Wood, Green The Inquiry’s Calls for Justice require transformative legal and social changes to resolve this crisis. Greens will fully implement the recommendations of the Inquiry as well as the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Greens will develop a comprehensive Canada-wide plan of action – with a timetable and dedicated funding – to eliminate violence against women, girls and genderdiverse people in collaboration with women’s and Indigenous organizations. Greens will address the root causes of violence and ensure equitable access to basic rights such as housing, education, and health care, and secure transportation to rural and remote
Gord Johns, NDP Beyond acting on the Inquiry’s calls for justice, all governments must respect solutions from self-determining nations and work together towards the implementation of their action plans. These plans will certainly include both a serious examination of fundamental causes of violence against women and massive investment in housing, day care, jobs and family support services. Importantly, Canada must address racism and bias towards Indigenous women within its education, health care and justice systems. All children should learn to celebrate cultural diversity at the earliest age. Similarly, cultural safety must be assured for Indigenous people by the RCMP and other service providers.
league Romeo Saganash’s Bill C-262 passed unanimously in the House of Commons. It would have enshrined the United Nations Rights on Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) into Canadian law. Sadly, it died in the unelected and unaccountable Senate at the time of the election.
and Reconciliation Commission, as well as the recommendations from the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. We need to ensure we support the development of Indigenous education curricula that are language and culture specific. Ensure that every First Nations, Métis and Inuit child has access to quality educational opportunities based on the expressed cultural, political and social priorities of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit governments, following meaningful consultation. We must also educate non-Indigenous Canadians on the history, customs, traditions and cultures of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples of Turtle Island.
Lydia Hwitsum, Green There are many recommendations that need to be prioritized and implemented. We need to make investments that make a real difference in the lives of Indigenous women. That means listening and responding to Indigenous womens’ priorities. The Greens will implement the Calls to Action from the Truth other government in the last 50 years. We are committed to closing the gap.
action brought forward by communities. Peter Shwarzhoff, Liberal Liberals are committed to ending this ongoing tragedy. We accept the findings of the report and have started to develop an action plan, as recommended. It will be developed in partnership with First Nations and Metis governments as well as with the families of the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. We have started on the path to reconciliation and although we know we have a very long way to go, Perry Bellegarde has said we have already made more progress than any
Mark de Bruijn, Green Greens will re-introduce legislation to enshrine UNDRIP and will implement the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Greens will legislate housing as a fundamental human right, and will prioritize high quality, safe and affordable housing. A Green national transportation strategy, including services to rural and remote communities, will ensure access to reliable, affordable transportation. Under the leadership of Indigenous organizations, Greens support the formal inclusion of traditional healing within mental wellness
programs. The Green budget allocates $10 billion for free college and university tuition and removes the 2% cap on increases in education funding for Indigenous students. Shelley Downey, Conservative I have picked up female hitchhikers while traveling around the north island. Why? To help them get to their destination safely. I have even rented rooms for a night so that they were safe until they could continue their travels the next day. Access to reliable transportation would certainly keep all women from harm. In addition, the expansion of cell service into remote areas and communities provides the ability to call for help.