Regional advisory meetings delayed for inquiry into missing women

OTTAWA — The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls has delayed some regional advisory meetings.

The decision came a week after families and advocacy groups said the inquiry has failed to reach out to the families of the women.

The purpose of the regional meetings was to gather advice on what issues should be covered when the inquiry starts hearings.

The inquiry issued a statement late Thursday saying the message it has received is that the regional advisory meetings must be “reformulated.”

The inquiry statement says it remains committed to being responsive to what families, survivors and communities are sharing. It promises the inquiry will be flexible.

New dates have not been set for regional meetings that were planned for Edmonton and Thunder Bay. The first public hearing is set for the end of May in Whitehorse.

Last week, the Coalition on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in British Columbia called on the commission and federal, provincial and territorial governments to do a better job of communicating with distraught families.

“This is the last chance that family members who want to be heard will be heard,” said Michele Pineault, the mother of Stephanie Lane, whose DNA was found on serial killer Robert Pickton’s farm. “This inquiry is very, very important to a lot of people.”

Coalition member Fay Blaney said the group was concerned about media reports that said the inquiry had located only about 100 family members or survivors as of three weeks ago.