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 proposes funding to establish a Federal-Provincial-Territorial-Indigenous table to discuss areas of mutual interest such as how to launch a “Red Dress Alert,” for notifying the public when an Indigenous woman or two-spirit+ person goes missing.

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If pressed on the Canada-Wide Emergency
• On May 2nd, 2023, a motion was brought forward to declare the continued loss of Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit+ people a Canada-wide emergency.

• This motion was unanimously adopted in the House of Commons.

• The work to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people has been and continues to be a priority for the Government of Canada.

• We have committed to accelerating the implementation of the Federal Pathway and continue to make investments to support the safety of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

If pressed on actions since forming Government
• Since 2017, the Government has passed significant legislation, implemented various programs, policies, services, and made strong investments to address the national tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit+ people.
• Budget 2021 contains investments of $2.2 billion over five years and $160.9 million ongoing.
• Budgets 2022 and 2023 provide additional and continued funding that addresses the root causes of violence.
• This includes investments in mental health and wellness supports, distinctions-based housing, education, health, anti-racism, economic development, clean water, legal aid, supports for Indigenous art, addressing gender-based violence, and ensuring accountability, transparency, and oversight.

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.
• On June 3, 2022, the Government of Canada published the first annual progress report on the Federal Pathway and a second on June 3, 2023.
• 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.

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, so that $120.5M has been delivered;
o Implemented the Wellbeing of Families and Survivors program, which secured additional funding, so that in the first two years of the program $7.5M has been delivered;
o Enhanced funding for Indigenous women’s and 2SLGBTQI+ organizations, with $29.6M committed and flowing as of September 1, 2023 through the Supporting Indigenous Women’s and 2SLGBTQI+ Organizations program; and,
o Implemented the Indigenous-led Data projects program has delivered $3.5 M in the first two years of the program.

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 is proposing to invest an additional $124.7 million over six years, with $20.4 million ongoing.
• These new proposed investments aim to ensure that progress is made on efforts to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit+ people, through safer communities, supports for families, and funding to ensure transparency, oversight, and accountability.

If pressed on the role of the MMIWG Secretariat
• Budget 2021 invested $16.6 million dollars over six years for the establishment of a permanent MMIWG Secretariat.
• The Secretariat leads the coordination of the Government of Canada’s efforts towards addressing violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit+ people, including the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the Federal Pathway.
• The Secretariat engages with various partners in the development and ongoing implementation of the National Action Plan.
• The MMIWG 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.

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.

If pressed on implementation of the whole National Action Plan
• Implementing the National Action Plan will require 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 Federal, Provincial, Territorial and Indigenous roundtable on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people was held in January 2023. Plans are underway with partners to set up a second roundtable for the upcoming months.

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 total, 24 new shelters have been selected, raising the total number supported by Indigenous Services Canada to 70. In May 2023, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $103.8M to create 178 new Indigenous Shelters and Transitional units in 21 communities across the country. This is part of the $724.1 million committed through the 2020 Comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy.

If pressed on genocide
• Some actions and policies have directly led to the loss and extinguishment of Indigenous languages, cultures, and traditional practices.
• The Government has accepted the Final Report of the National Inquiry and respects their findings.
• The Government is grateful for the work of all partners on the development of the National Action Plan to eliminate violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit+ people.

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.
• 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. The government is expecting to continue conversations with Indigenous partners on the establishment of an oversight mechanism in the near future.

If pressed on Ombudsperson / Tribunal
• Accountability is critical to ending violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit+ people and this accountability is shared by all levels of government and the private sector.
• The Final Report of the National Inquiry calls for an Indigenous and Human Rights Ombudsperson and tribunal to ensure accountability, redress, and advocacy.
• The Ombudsperson is a priority identified by Indigenous partners, families, and survivors in the 2021 National Action Plan. The Ministerial Special Representative is engaging Indigenous partners and will provide advice and recommendations to address this priority.
• Budget 2023 proposed $1.6M over 2 years to support this work.

If pressed on the January 10th Roundtable of Indigenous Leadership and Representatives and Federal-Provincial-Territorial Governments
• The federal government and the provinces and territories have a responsibility to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit+ people.
• On January 10, 2023, a Roundtable of Indigenous leadership and representatives and federal-provincial-territorial governments addressing MMIWG and Two-Spirit+ was held.
• The Roundtable established a space for constructive dialogue, where Indigenous women’s and Two-Spirit+ voices were heard and information on tangible progress was shared by Indigenous organizations and federal, provincial, and territorial representatives.
• Our government is committed to ongoing collaboration with Indigenous representatives, provinces, and territories, through the Roundtable and other forums, to end this national tragedy.

If pressed on second Roundtable of Indigenous Leadership and Representatives and Federal-Provincial-Territorial Governments

• To maintain momentum initiated at the first national roundtable of Indigenous Leaders and Representatives, federal, provincial, and territorial ministers that was held on January 10, 2023, a second roundtable is proposed to take place in Winter 2023/24.
• This will provide an opportunity for federal, provincial and territorial ministers and Indigenous leaders and representatives from across Canada to discuss specific cross-jurisdictional topics such as a Red Dress Alert.
• The agenda will be co-developed with Indigenous partners, provinces and territories.

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.