VANCOUVER – A coalition on missing and murdered indigenous women is urging the new federal Liberal government to be cautious before launching an inquiry into the problem.
The group says the failure of British Columbia’s own missing-women inquiry led by former attorney general Wally Oppal should be a lesson in what not to do.
The coalition, made up of more than two dozen groups and individuals, says B.C.’s investigation neglected to consult the families of the missing women and also fell short of implementing many of the final report’s 56 recommendations.
The group came together after their organizations were shut out of the B.C. inquiry and it has continued to meet to pursue justice for murdered and missing women.
Key on the list of failures is the still-outstanding recommendation to introduce a shuttle-bus service along the so-called Highway of Tears, a northern stretch of road known for the disappearance of indigenous women.
Provincial Transport Minister Todd Stone has said consultation with communities along the route revealed that the bus plan was impractical.
