Question Period Note: The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Our Government is committed to ending the ongoing national tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and this is why we launched an independent national inquiry.

We took concrete action in response to the commission’s interim report, including increased supports for families and survivors, support for an RCMP special unit, and a review of police practices. We have also invested in women’s shelters, housing, education, child welfare reform, and safety on the Highway of Tears.

In response to the Final Report’s 231 Calls for Justice, we are developing a national action plan in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis governments and organizations, family members, and survivors, to implement the report’s Calls to Justice.

On December 8, 2015, the Government of Canada announced the launch of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (National Inquiry). The Government of Canada dedicated $53.8 million to the independent National Inquiry, and provided terms of reference and a timeline of two years to complete its important work, which began on September 1, 2016. Our response to the interim report was substantive, and included an allocation of $50 million. Action has been taken to strengthen the justice system, improve safety and security, improve oversight and awareness, prevent violence, provide support to victims, families and communities, and to ensure that Indigenous women’s voices are heard. Investments in women’s shelters, housing, education and reform of child and family services have also been made.

In June 2018, the Commission was granted a six-month extension, giving the Inquiry until June 30, 2019 to complete its work, with the final report due on April 30, 2019. The Government of Canada has provided $38M in additional funding to support the Inquiry during its extension. The Commission has used these funds to assist with operational needs and provide short term aftercare to families and survivors who testify. This brought the total funding for the Inquiry to $92M.

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls presented its final report to the federal, provincial and territorial governments at a public closing ceremony in Gatineau, Quebec on June 3, 2019. During the closing ceremony, the Governement of Canada welcomed the release of the final report and reiterated its commitment to ending the ongoing national tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and to help prevent and eliminate violence against Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ and Two-Spirit People in future generations.

During the closing ceremony, the Prime Minister promised to develop and implement a National Action Plan to address violence against Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ and two-spirit people. The Government of Canada is working with Indigenous partners and provincial and territorial governements to develop and implement a National Action Plan to respond to the Calls for Justice and expects to launch the National Action Plan in Summer 2020.

Working with Provinces and Territories

The Final Report invites the federal, provincial and territorial governments to respond to the Calls to Justice.
To date, 4 provinces and 2 territories have formally indicated their interest in working with the Government of Canada to address the Inquiry’s final report.
Our government will continue to promote cooperation and collaboration with provinces and territories to drive transformative change to end systemic racism and violence against Indigenous women and girls.