By Daryl Major

NDP wants action right away on missing, murdered women inquiry

Aug 3, 2016 | 11:37 AM

NANAIMO — The federal government has delivered on an election promise announcing the terms of a long awaited inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women.

The two year inquiry, to be led by five commissioners, will be up and running on September 1st.

Sheila Malcolmson, the New Democrat M-P for Nanaimo-Ladysmith and the party’s critic on the status of women says the inquiry needs to take action right now.

“We don’t need to wait for the end of the inquiry to know that we need more affordable housing, we need more domestic violence shelters, we need more cultural training with RCMP and other police. We start to act immediately on the things already we know we have to do, maybe then, the rest of the issues can be dealt with over the two year period,” said Malcolmson.

She cautions that holding the inquiry may reopen old wounds for family members of victims.

pay and ride

Popular e-bike sharing program launching in Nanaimo

4h ago

exemption required

'Give the police the tools they need:' Provincial government again looking to ban public drug use

6h ago

24/7 support

Major supportive housing complex set to open in Nanaimo

8h ago

“We need to make that if they trust the process enough for them to tell these deeply personal stories that we need to continue to support them beyond just the terms of the inquiry. We make sure that they are not re-traumatized in the telling of these very sad family stories.”

Malcolmson adds that Canada needs this process in order to move forward with real reconciliation around indigenous issues.