Red Dress Alert to be launched in Manitoba
OTTAWA • Canada and Manitoba are partnering to launch an alert system that would inform the public when an Indigenous woman or girl goes missing, they announced Friday in Winnipeg, ahead of a national day to mark the crisis.
The long-awaited Red Dress Alert system is a bid to prevent deaths and increase safe reunions with loved ones.
Statistics Canada concluded in a report last year that the homicide rate for Indigenous women and girls was six times higher than the rate for their non-indigenous counterparts.
A national inquiry concluded five years ago that they are 12 times more likely to go missing or murdered.
“This is a historic moment, and a major step toward ending the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse peoples,” said NDP MP Leah Gazan, who has lead federal advocacy on the alert.
“And while we celebrate this historic moment, it is critical to remember that we are not done until a Red Dress Alert is no longer needed.”
The Manitoba pilot is to be designed with and led by Indigenous Peoples, and is expected to help inform an eventual national alert system.
It will be funded through moneys set aside in this year’s federal and provincial budgets.
Nahanni Fontaine, Manitoba’s minister for women and gender equity, said she has heard from community members who believe the alert system could help reduce risk for Indigenous women and girls.
“We look forward to working inclusively with Indigenous partners in Manitoba to find the best path forward as we build this pilot project.”
Crown-indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree said Winnipeg — and Manitoba at large — are the epicentre of the crisis, and launching the Red Dress Alert there will bring forward solutions that can be implemented across the country.
“It’s not the only solution, but it’s a critical starting point for us to address the immediate crisis that exists.”