Valcourt skeptical of inquiry
OTTAWA — Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt says some aboriginal men have a “lack of respect” toward women on reserves and that a national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women won’t accomplish anything.
Rejecting renewed calls for an inquiry, Valcourt said aboriginal communities should work for a solution to violence against indigenous women and provinces should assume a greater role instead of just talking.
Valcourt said that “if we’re honest here,” it’s apparent what part of the problem is.
“Obviously, there’s a lack of respect for women and girls on reserves,” he said. “So, you know, if the guys grow up believing that women have no rights, that’s how they are treated.”
Valcourt made the comments in an interview days after aboriginal leaders met in Winnipeg, where they insisted that an inquiry is critical.
Their calls were reinforced by a poignant speech from 16-year-old Rinelle Harper, who was assaulted and left for dead on a riverbank in Winnipeg last month.
In her remarks, the young woman urged hundreds of Assembly of First Nations chiefs to keep pushing for an inquiry.
“I respond by saying, ‘Listen, Rinelle, I have a lot of sympathy for your situation. And I guess that victims … have different views and we respect them,’ ” Valcourt said.
But Valcourt argued that the issue of violence against indigenous women is “too important” to use an inquiry as an “excuse” for not taking action.
The new AFN national chief, Perry Bellegarde, said this week he will press Prime Minister Stephen Harper to “open his heart” and understand that the problem has become a “black mark on Canada” and that an inquiry is necessary.
Valcourt suggested Bellegarde won’t get far with his argument. “If you really have heart, and if you take this at heart, you will not ask the government of Canada to spin its wheels for years over an inquiry that will bring about what? Exactly what we know today.”
Valcourt said he didn’t want to directly put words in the prime minister’s mouth. “But I suspect he will tell him, ‘Perry, it’s not a question of heart. It’s a question of people pulling together, addressing the issue, and taking action.’ ”
In recent months, the issue has taken on greater political significance. An RCMP report found 1,181 cases of murdered or missing indigenous women in Canada since 1980.
“There are root causes that have to be addressed,” Bellegarde said. “The homelessness, the poverty, the alcohol and drug abuse. The systems that are there need to be changed.”
Valcourt defended his government’s record. “I beg to differ that the federal government is the ultimate solution here,” he said. “The solution is at the community level. Now, who are the chiefs and councils assembling (in their) communities to address this issue?”
He said the federal government will help aboriginal communities if they need it. “But, you know, someone has got to take ownership of this issue. And even if we try to do it at the federal level, it won’t change anything.”