It鈥檚 time for a critical review and reset of the national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. The inquiry is needed. Indigenous women have a murder rate at least four times higher than other Canadians. Violence and death are part of their lives at horrifying levels, and have been for decades. As a nation, we need to understand why and take measures to change this grim reality.
That hasn鈥檛 happened. An inquiry 鈥� despite the many challenges 鈥� is the best way to understand the complex causes and respond effectively.
But this inquiry is in trouble. Families have complained about the slow progress 鈥� the first hearings were held only this week in the Yukon, almost 10 months after the commissioners received their mandate. Hearings will then be suspended until fall, making it almost impossible for the inquiry to meet its November deadline for an interim report. The commission had already spent more than $5 million before hearing from its first witness.
The slow pace has sparked criticism from families and First Nations leaders. Bill Wilson, a hereditary chief of the Kwakwaka鈥檞akw First Nation, has called it a 鈥渇arce鈥� and said the commissioners have 鈥渇ailed miserably.鈥� Wilson is not just an indigenous leader on Vancouver Island and in British Columbia; he is the father of federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould.
Inquiry defenders might argue that any government intervention now would undermine the commission鈥檚 independence.
But the commissioners have opened the door to a review of the mandate and terms of reference. The inquiry was to cost $53.8 million and be complete by the end of 2018. Chief commissioner Marion Buller, a sa国际传媒 provincial court judge, now says more money and time will be needed.
That is an effective acknowledgment that the original mandate was unworkable. Rather than continuing down the same path, it鈥檚 time to review progress and come up with a new plan.
There have been calls simply to halt the inquiry. Critics argue, with reason, that this type of inquiry is increasingly costly and time-consuming and too often results in no real change. And it is easy to think of other ways $53 million could benefit indigenous women today.
However, a commitment has been made, to the families of murdered and missing women and girls, to indigenous communities, to all Canadians. That commitment comes after decades of neglect and denial. It cannot be abandoned now without betraying a fundamental trust.
But it would be just as serious a betrayal to allow the commission to continue down its current path.
The inquiry鈥檚 problems are real and serious. The government must step in and work with the commissioners and First Nations stakeholders to get this inquiry back on track.
