Three of the four candidates in the Kenora riding say they support the Assembly of First Nations’ call for a national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.
The riding is home to 40 First Nations and is one of 51 identified by the Assembly of First Nations where First Nations could swing the vote.
A CBC News investigation revealed at least 25 confirmed cases of missing and murdered indigenous women from northern Ontario.
Here’s how each of the candidates responded when asked by CBC News whether they are in favour of holding an inquiry:
- Conservative Greg Rickford, (incumbent)
Conservative Greg Rickford says his party is “committed to putting and end to violent crime” to address the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women. (Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press)
“As a father of two daughters, I empathize with the deep pain the deaths of these women have caused many families. The fact is these crimes are completely unacceptable and the only real solution is to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.
“Over the past seven years, our government has passed over 30 measures to keep our streets and communities safe — we are the only party which has demonstrated a commitment towards putting an end to the violent crime.”
Rickford also said the Conservatives are helping communities develop community safety plans, raise awareness about violence among women and girls while engaging men and boys on the issue, and providing assistance to victims and their families.
- NDP Howard Hampton
The NDP’s Howard Hampton says “there are questions that need to be asked and answered” through a national inquiry. ((Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press))
“This is a travesty for Canada that has many implications that need to be looked at. One, do police services not take the disappearance and murder of aboriginal women as seriously as other issues? Two, what are the social and economic conditions that lead to this? Three, as a society are we more tolerant or less interested in abuse and violence against aboriginal women than we care about abuse or violence towards other Canadians?
“These are some questions that need to be asked and answered and I think the answers will be painful, but I think it’s something we need to face up to.”
Hampton said an inquiry would begin within the first 100 days of an NDP government being elected.
- Liberal Bob Nault
Liberal Bob Nault says “there needs to be an airing of just how we as a society do a better job of protecting our women.” (Supplied)
“There needs to be an airing of just how we as a society do a better job of protecting our women when they’re out on the street or when they’re away from home, or even in their homes.
“That’s why I think an inquiry will do all of us a lot of good and we’ll learn a lot from it.”
Nault said the Liberals are committed to launching an inquiry immediately as soon as a terms of reference can be established.
- The Green Party’s Ember Mckillop
“I think, personally, the reluctance to call this inquiry might be because it will bring to light some of the conditions that First Nations people have to endure and that the government is ultimately responsible for — these are policies of the Indian Act that have created the situation as we see it today.
“I think it’s really important that this inquiry go ahead and that we accept what is happening and we take steps to make things better.”
Mckillop said the Green Party is fully supportive of an inquiry.
