Chief Bruce Shisheesh, left, Minister of Indigenous Affairs Carolyn Bennett, centre, and Federal NDP MPP Charlie Angus, right, meet in the northern Ontario First Nations reserve of Attawapiskat, Ont., in an April 16, 2016, file photo. Two cabinet ministers will speak at the United Nations in New York City today about the government's approach to indigenous affairs, but grave conditions on a northern Ontario reserve have prompted the NDP's indigenous affairs critic to cancel his attendance as part of the Canadian delegation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Attawapiskat First Nations Chief Bruce Shisheesh, left, Minister of Indigenous Affairs Carolyn Bennett, centre, and Federal NDP MPP Charlie Angus, right, meet in the northern Ontario First Nations reserve of Attawapiskat, Ont., in an April 16, 2016, file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

 

The federal government has announced the terms of a long-awaited inquiry into murdered and missing indigenous women, unveiling that it will need at least $13.8 million more for the study than was originally expected.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould and Status of Women Minister Patty Hajdu attended an event at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que. Wednesday morning.

The announcement marks the end of the government’s work to design the scope of the study.

Also in attendance was Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus, who is also the NDP Critic for Indigineous and Northern Affairs.

He was sitting among a number of family members who lost daughters, sisters and mothers.  He says you could really feel the emotion in the room.

“This has been a long time coming,” he said.

The inquiry–set to be led by five commissioners—is designed to be arm’s length from government when it is up and running on September 1st.

Angus did have some concern for Bennett, and how she “raised a lot of expectations among the families.”

“She started to speculate last spring about the numbers of murdered women being much higher,” he said.

“She spoke about individual cases so that created an impression that they’re going to look at these cases and solve them.  That’s not necessarily the role of this commission, so Madame Bennett has raised that bar and I’m not sure how we’re going to solve all these issues.  But I trust the commission is going to do their best.”

Bennett says the inquiry will reflect what the government heard during pre-inquiry consultations — that policing and child welfare policies be put under the microscope and that the inquiry not take a one-size-fits-all approach.

Wilson-Raybould adds by digging for root causes, including past and present systemic and institutional barriers, the commission will help define actions needed to protect the human rights of indigenous women and girls.

The probe is expected to last at least two years and cost a minimum of $53.8 million, even though the feds originally budgeted for $40 million.

The commissioners are:

  • Marion Buller: chief commissioner, B.C.’s first female First Nations judge
  • Michele Audette: former president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada
  • Qajaq Robinson: An Ottawa-based, Nunavut-born lawyer who practices civil litigation with an emphasis on aboriginal law
  • Marilyn Poitras: a professor at the University of Saskatchewan, professor with a focus on indigenous law
  • Brian Eyolfson: First Nations lawyer based in Ontario.

(With files from The Canadian Press)

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