B.C. to play role in national inquiry
Probe into missing and murdered native women must be inclusive, justice minister says
The federal government has embarked on a two- month consultation with native leaders, victims’ families and other stakeholders to determine the scope and duration of an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal woman — a key Liberal promise during the recent election campaign. New Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, the MP for Vancouver-Granville, spoke with The Vancouver Sun on Thursday about the role B.C. could play in the national inquiry, scheduled to begin in the spring.
(Her answers have been edited for length.) Q Have you met with some victims’ families, and what have they told you so far about what they want from this inquiry? A We had the opportunity to meet with some of the families last week and we’ll continue to meet with families and aboriginal organizations as we proceed into the new year. Some of the things that we heard that families want is to ensure that their voices are heard, to ensure that we engage with them in their communities, that we create a space to hear their stories, provide support for the families in telling those stories, to make sure they can get a sense of justice, and to ensure they can bring meaning to the memory of their loved ones, but also to play a part in establishing a terms of reference (for the inquiry). Q B.C. has the unfortunate history of both the missing women cases from the Downtown Eastside and the Highway of Tears, which both involve a significant number of aboriginal victims. How will you be reaching out to these families? Will you go to Vancouver and Prince George? A We haven’t completely settled on the schedule for the ministers, but we certainly are planning to be here in Vancouver in the very early new year and ensuring that we can get out to different areas in the province. We want to hear from people about where we should go, who we should engage with, and ensure ... we take the steps necessary to put in place an inquiry that will achieve the objectives that I think we are all collectively looking for. Q Once the inquiry starts, will it take place just in Ottawa or will there be hearings held across the country? And if the latter, how important is it for you to have hearings held here in B.C.? A I think the only way we are going to ensure that we are successful, that people feel like their voices are heard, is if we ensure that it is not just centred in Ottawa (and) that we under- stand the different situations. If we are speaking about Inuit, or Metis, or First Nations people, that we are in those communities and we are conducting the inquiry in a way that ensures that we are comprehensive. Q So it sounds like there is a good chance that part of the hearings will be held in B.C.? A
It is definitely a possibility. Q Do you think it is important that the inquiry be led by an aboriginal woman? A That’s one of the strong suggestions that we’ve heard from families in the meetings that we have had, whether or not we are looking at one commissioner or more than one is something we are looking forward to getting feedback on. Certainly, having indigenous women participate in the inquiry is important. Q Names of possible commissioners being floated in B.C. include children’s representative Mary Ellen TurpelLafond and children’s welfare advocate Cindy Blackstock. A I know both of those women and certainly both are very accomplished and will generally have a lot to say and contribute toward the inquiry. Again, we are looking for feedback and guidance on how many commissioners and suggestions on who those commissioners should be. Q How can a national inquiry result in more solutions that make a difference compared to the provincial inquiry into missing women held by former justice Wally Oppal? A If there were a lot of messages that came out of Oppal, that families need to be heard and that they need to be supported is one. And secondly, that there needs to be a broader objective in terms of looking at how we can address issues like poverty, marginalization, inequality, looking at the history of the colonial legacy — and giving people an opportunity to speak to those issues. And, I think, equally as important, being forward-thinking: How we can, in partnership, collectively address those issues.