Thursday, March 28, 2024

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Ministers united in request for inquiry

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Provincial leaders united today, looking for ways to address the issue of missing and murdered aboriginal women. The premiers are meeting in Prince Edward Island for their annual conference, and sat down with national aboriginal leaders this morning.

We know that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has rejected the idea of a national inquiry. Premiers reiterated their demand for one today — but they’re also looking at other ways to get the federal government involved.

The call for an inquiry was triggered by the death of 15-year old Tina Fontaine who was found dead in Winnipeg’s Red River. Aboriginal leaders say it’s time Canada did something as a whole to protect women like her.

P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz says preliminary discussions have begun to set up a roundtable with federal ministers. Nothing is official, but he says talks are underway with the justice minister and aboriginal affairs minister. The premiers are hoping a roundtable would at least trigger some effective brainstorming on how to deal with this issue nationally. Still, they want Harper himself to get involved.

P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz: “I would encourage the prime minister to sit down with our NAO leaders tell them why there shouldn’t be a national inquiry. And if he can convince them, then that could be a solution as well.”

Today’s discussion also included strategies to combat other aboriginal issues. Manitoba Premier Gregory Selinger, the province where Tina Fontaine was killed, tweeted after the meeting, saying: “Productive talks with premiers and national aboriginal organizations. We can and must do better as a country for First Nations.”

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