I have been working in the yard digging, planting, trimming and watering the vegetation. It is the best soul food there is.
The daily dose of news and reading still engages the mind. The Canadian Premiers conference raised some interesting issues. The Premiers rejected Harper's job training plan urging more consultation. They called for a public inquiry into missing indigenous women in Canada. The federal government immediately rejected the Premiers call. BC had held its own inquiry. It made several recommendations. With former Lt. Governor resigning from the responsibility to assist the government in implementing those recommendations it is not clear when they might be acted upon.
There are scores of aboriginal women missing across Canada. The figure of several hundred such missing women has been mentioned. As was the case in the Pickton murders it quite possible that there are other serial killers involved. Why will a serial killer not target the aboriginal women if he knew that many in the comfort of our rich or middle class existences have neither the time nor the inclination to care. The killer/s would also know that governments of all stripes may not move with as much speed to institute an Inquiry. It would also be pretty obvious to the killer/s that at least in the past the police have not done themselves proud in diligently pursuing them. The Pickton's is a case in point. I was the Attorney General when a reward was first posted. I remember the women demonstrators who were pushing for it. I remember standing with John Walsh of America's Most Wanted, a representative of the police and Mayor Owen . There was some resistance to it in some quarters. But it was done.
With all that has happened in the Pickton case, the women who were demonstrating for a reward have been absolutely vindicated. The subsequent BC inquiry had its share of ups and downs but the recommendations produced by the inquiry will help once they are implemented. The BC inquiry was not and could not have been national in scope.
There is a very well articulated demand for a national /federal inquiry into the missing women. Yet the Harper government has summarily dismissed the request from the leaders of the Provinces and the Territories. Prime Minister Harper would do well to remember the Picton investigation and what preceded it. Eventually he was apprehended, convicted and put away. There was at least some, even though belated, closure.
The Prime Minister should also remember the lessons of the Air India disaster where he legitimately called an inquiry, raised memorials and attempted to provide some belated disclosure. We most likely would not have botched the Air India investigation if the plane had been full of over 300, for the want of a better term, 'white' Canadians. The Inquiry would also have been more speedily ordered. I have felt that and previously said so publicly.
Similarly if there had been over 20 'white' women missing from a rich part of Vancouver in the 90s there would have been quick and significant action taken. Make no mistake about that.
We have hundreds of aboriginal women missing in Canada. The aboriginal communities across the country have been supporting the call for a federal/national inquiry. Now the Premiers have added their support in pursuit of that inquiry. Only the federal government is capable of ordering and funding it. No body in his/her right mind can or should say that 13 provincial/territorial inquiries are either desirable or a sufficient substitute.
Think of it this way Prime Minister! Had there been several hundred 'white' women missing, what would have been your answer to the call for an inquiry? I have no doubt you would have said Yes! That is the answer we expect from you in this case too. You rightly offered the apology regarding the residential schools. Let us not lay the foundation for another apology by a future government. A public inquiry in this case is the right thing to do.
Please call a public inquiry into missing aboriginal women in Canada. Please do so now.