Question Period Note: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls – National Action Plan Timeline

• Our hearts are with the survivors and the families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two Spirit and gender diverse people.

• In response to the first ever National Public Inquiry on this ongoing national tragedy our government is working with all provincial and territorial governments – as well as Indigenous leaders, survivors and families to develop a National Action Plan that sets a clear roadmap to ensure that Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit and gender diverse people are safe.

N/A

If pressed:

• Our priority is to accelerate work to develop a National Action Plan and this work is being lead by Indigenous women, two sprit and gender diverse partners.

• Guided by families, survivors and grassroots community groups, the National Action Plan will respond to this national tragedy in a progressive, accountable and enduring manner.

• With our partners, we will ensure that it has indicators and measurements that will allow the plan to be accountable for results and evolve over time.

• We will not let survivors and families down.

Actions since forming government
• We have been working since 2015 to address systemic issues that contribute to this tragedy. Our shared work continues.

• We have passed legislation to address the Child and Family Services System, preserve and protect Indigenous language and culture, toughen criminal law in cases of domestic assault, and eliminate gender discrimination under the Indian Act.

• We have made investments in education, housing, policing, and shelters.

• We are ensuring we get this right for survivors and families, to honour those lost, and to protect future generations.

Genocide
• The actions and policies of past Governments directly led to the loss and extinguishment of Indigenous languages, cultures and traditional practices.

• Our Government has accepted the final report of the National Inquiry and respects their conclusions.

• We are grateful for the work of all partners to date towards a National Action Plan to eliminate violence against Indigenous women, girls and Two Spirit gender diverse people.

• More needs to be done and we are redoubling our efforts to get this right for survivors, families and communities.

MMIWG – Funding for Indigenous-Led Engagement
• We are accelerating our work with our Indigenous, provincial, and territorial partners on the development of the National Action Plan.

• We invested $30M over five years to support Indigenous-led engagement throughout the development and implementation of the National Action Plan.

• We have already provided $2.4M to national and regional Indigenous organizations to ensure that they are resourced to meaningfully participate in our combined efforts to improve the safety of Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit and gender diverse people.

If pressed on working group

• As the Speech from the Throne highlighted, the co-development of the National Action Plan is a priority for our government and work is underway through a series of working groups, led by Indigenous women.

• The groups are also comprised of Indigenous governments and organizations, federal, provincial and territorial governments, Two Spirit and LGBTQ organization leaders, family members and survivors.

• The resulting National Action plan will be distinctions-based, regionally relevant, durable and accountable, ensuring we make progress on ending violence against Indigenous women, girls, Two Spirit and LGBTQ people.

If pressed – ONWA

• As the Speech from the Throne highlighted, the co-development of the National Action Plan is an urgent priority for our government and work is underway through a series of working groups, led by Indigenous women.

• We thank Ontario Native Women’s Association for their on-going work, including their engagement work on development of a National Action Plan

• We look forward to continuing to work with ONWA to address these concerns and include their work to date into the development of the National Action Plan.

If pressed – Woman with disabilities

• Our hearts are with the survivors and the families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two Spirit and gender diverse people.

• We recognize the work that remains ahead in the area of ensuring Indigenous women and girls with disabilities are protected and safe, and that they have access to services in a safe space.

• We are continuing to work with our partners to develop the National Action Plan which includes components specific to the protection of Indigenous women and girls with disabilities.

On the Fall Economic Statement

• Our Government’s Fall Economic Statement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to respond with concrete action to the issues identified in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Gills Calls for Justice.

• As part of our work to develop a distinctions-based National Action Plan, the Fall Economic Statement will invest an additional $781.5 million over 5 years and $106.3 million ongoing to combat systemic discrimination against Indigenous peoples and expand efforts to combat violence against Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit and LGBTQ people.

• We will not let survivors and families down.