Question Period Note: Red Dress Alert

• The Government is coordinating a whole-of-government response to address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQI+, through the Federal Pathway and the National Action Plan.

• Budget 2023 committed to advancing discussions surrounding the Red Dress Alert at the National Indigenous-Federal-Provincial-Territorial Roundtable on MMIWG and 2SLGBTQI+ People in February 2024.

• To help keep Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people safe, Budget 2024 proposes to provide $1.3 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, to co-develop with Indigenous partners, on a priority first phase, a regional Red Dress Alert system

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If pressed on who was engaged on a Red Dress Alert

• National Indigenous organizations, regional and urban organizations, technical experts, family members and survivors, and grassroots service providers were engaged in 16 pre-engagement sessions and shared their insights.

• These pre-engagement sessions were led by Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, Chair of the National Family and Survivors Circle; Sandra Delaronde, co-chair of the Manitoba MMIWG2S+ Coalition team; Leah Gazan, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre; and Pam Damoff, Member of Parliament for Oakville North.

• The Red Dress Alert was also prioritized as a subject of discussion at the second National Indigenous-Federal-Provincial-Territorial Roundtable on MMIWG, on February 7,8, 2024.

If pressed on when a Red Dress Alert will be launched

• The initial phase of the Red Dress Alert began with pre-engagements with provinces, territories, and Indigenous organizations and communities. These engagements will serve as the foundation for the next steps undertaken, including any launch.

• As announced in Budget 2024, the proposed funding over three years will support the priority first phase of a regional red Dress Alert System

• The Government will continue to work towards an expeditious implementation, while working in partnership with Indigenous communities, grassroots organizations, as well as provincial and territorial governments.

If pressed on actions since forming Government
• Since 2015, the Government has passed significant legislation, implemented programs, policies, services, and made investments to address the national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit+ people.
• Action has been taken through $2.2 billion over five years and $160.9 million ongoing from Budget 2021, while Budgets 2022, 2023 and 2024 provide additional support.
• This includes action on mental health and wellness supports, distinctions-based housing, education, justice, health, anti-racism, economic development, clean water, legal aid, supports for Indigenous culture, addressing gender-based violence, ensuring accountability, and oversight and on a Red Dress Alert.

If pressed on the launch of the National Action Plan and Federal Pathway in response to the MMIWG Inquiry

• On June 3, 2021, the Government of Canada, alongside Indigenous partners and organizations, families, survivors, and provinces and territories, launched the National Action Plan and the Government’s contribution, the Federal Pathway.
• Initiatives of both aim to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit+ people.
• The federal government, released the first annual progress report on the National Action Plan on June 3, 2022, and the second progress report was released on the same day in 2023, signaling a commitment towards continuous action and transparency.
• The federal government is committed to working closely with all partners on this critical, ongoing priority.

If pressed on reporting

• In the Federal Pathway, the Government of Canada committed to producing an annual progress report on key milestones and progress made against the commitments.
• Every year, on June 3 the Government of Canada publishes an annual progress report on the Federal Pathway.
• These reports contain updates of more than 50 initiatives and programs led by 25 federal departments and agencies that were launched under the Federal Pathway and identify the work ahead.
• On June 3, 2024, the third annual progress report is expected to be released.

If pressed on results

• The Government of Canada is accelerating the implementation of the Federal Pathway.
• As a result of Budget 2021 investments, CIRNAC has:
o Expended all funds for the Cultural Spaces program, with some additional funding, with $120.5M delivered;
o Implemented the Wellbeing of Families and Survivors program, which has allocated $12.3 M since 2021-22 to 2023-24;
o Enhanced funding for Indigenous women’s and 2SLGBTQI+ organizations, with $30.2M committed and flowing as of April 1, 2024 through the Supporting Indigenous Women’s and 2SLGBTQI+ Organizations program; and,
o Implemented the Indigenous-led Data projects program, which allocates $5.1 M from 2021-22 to 2026-27.

If pressed on Budget 2023
• Together with Indigenous partners, the federal government is accelerating the implementation of the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit LGBTQI+ people.
• Budget 2023 focused on taking additional actions tto end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit+ people, through safer communities, supports for family members and survivors, an Indigenous, Federal, Provincial and Territorial Roundtable on MMIWG, establishing a Ministerial Special Representative on an Indigenous and Human Rights Ombudsperson and work on an oversight mechanism.
• Budget 2023 supported this with an additional $124.7 million over six years, with $20.4 million ongoing.

If pressed on Budget 2024
• Budget 2024 has proposed additional investments that continue to support addressing the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
• Budget 2024 is proposing to provide $1.3 million over three years, starting in 2024 25, to co-develop with Indigenous partners, on a priority first phase, a regional Red Dress Alert system.
• Budget 2024 is also proposing additional investments that are expected to contribute to addressing the Calls for Justice, in areas such as: housing; health; mental health; addressing anti-Indigenous racism in health care; justice, revitalization of Indigenous law and legals systems; culture; and First Nations and Inuit Policing.

If pressed on the role of the MMIWG Secretariat
• The Secretariat leads the coordination of efforts to addressing violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit+ people, including the Federal Pathway. The Secretariat plays a direct role in advancing Call for Justices 1.7and 1.10, and a Red Dress Alert.
• The Secretariat engages with various partners in the development and implementation of the National Action Plan.
• The Secretariat manages the Wellbeing of Families and Survivors Program, the Indigenous-Led Data Program, and supports Indigenous partners to continue to participate in the work going forward.
• Budget 2021 invested $16.6 million over six years to support this work (funding subject to renewal after 2026-27).

If pressed on implementation of the whole National Action Plan
• Implementing the National Action Plan requires a concerted effort by all.
• The Government of Canada continues to work with Indigenous partners, families and survivors, provinces and territories, and other organizations on the implementation of the National Action Plan.
• A first National Indigenous, Federal, Provincial, and Territorial roundtable on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people was held in January 2023. The second National Roundtable was a hybrid meeting, held February 7-8, 2024 in Ottawa. Plans are underway for the third National Roundtable to be held in early 2025.

If pressed on implementation of the Federal Pathway
• The Government of Canada is committed to accelerating the work to implement both the Federal Pathway and the National Action Plan.
• Many commitments in the Federal Pathway and Budget 2021 have been implemented or are well underway to being implemented, aimed at seeing concrete and tangible results on the ground.
• The government reports annually on the progress made, through an annual progress report. The most recent one was released in June 2023 and the next is planned for June 3, 2024.

If pressed on supports for Indigenous shelters

• In June 2021, 12 new shelters were announced, with $85 million committed to build and support their operations over five years and $10.2 million annually.
• In July 2021, $724.1 million was announced to support 38 emergency shelters and 50 transition homes over five years. This includes the expansion of culturally-relevant violence prevention activities and $96.6 million annually.
• In collaboration with Indigenous partners, a total of 47 new proposals have been selected across the country. These shelters and transition homes will provide Indigenous women, children, and 2SLGBTQI+ survivors of gender-based violence with a vital refuge and culturally appropriate supports and services.

If pressed on genocide
• The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (National Inquiry) found that the violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people amounts to genocide.
• The Government respects the National Inquiry’s findings and acknowledges that the legacy of past actions and policies, such as the Indian Act and residential schools, have directly led to the loss and extinguishment of Indigenous languages, cultures, and traditional practices.
The Government has taken action through policies, programs, legislation and investments to address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People, and remains committed to ending this national crisis of violence.

If pressed on oversight mechanism for the National Action Plan
• The Government of Canada recognizes the need for an independent oversight body to monitor the implementation of the National Action Plan in response to Call for Justice 1.10.
• Accountability is key to ending the violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit+ people to hold all those responsible for implementation to account.
• The Government of Canada has engaged with Indigenous partners, families, and survivors on this oversight committee, and contracted an Indigenous firm, which continued this engagement on recommendations for the development of an oversight mechanism. The final report has been shared with Indigenous partners, provinces and territories and the Government of Canada is analyzing next steps.
If pressed on Ombudsperson / Tribunal

• CIRNAC has been moving forward on Call for Justice 1.7, which calls for the creation of an Indigenous and Human Rights Ombudsperson and Tribunal.
• The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations appointed a Ministerial Special Representative, Jennifer Moore Rattray, to provide advice and recommendations on the creation of an Indigenous and Human Rights Ombudsperson in January 2023.
• The Ministerial Special Representative provided her final report in the winter of 2024 and the report is expected to be published in Spring 2024.

If pressed on the February 7-8, 2024, National Indigenous-Federal-Provincial-Territorial Roundtable
• The Second National Indigenous-Federal-Provincial-Territorial Roundtable took place on February 7-8, 2024. It brought together over 100 in-person and 130 virtual participants, from Indigenous organizations and federal, provincial and territorial governments.
• The meeting provided productive discussions on: the development of a Red Dress Alert; the recommendations by the Ministerial Special Representative on an Indigenous and Human Rights ombudsperson; and, provincial and territorial approaches to oversight and monitoring of Calls for Justice implementation. It ended with a leadership discussion on opportunities for collaboration.
• A report of the meeting will be available in Spring 2024. The next meeting is planned for winter 2025.
If pressed on alignment to other plans and strategies
• Through the coordination role undertaken by the MMIWG Secretariat, a whole-of-government approach is being taken to deliver programs, policies, and legislation to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit+ people.
• This work aligns with plans such as: the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy, the Indigenous Justice Strategy, and the Women, Peace and Security Plan.
• All of these efforts together contribute to the transformative change required so that Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit+ people live free from violence.