The Québec government welcomes the holding of a public inquiry into the plight of missing and murdered indigenous women

QUÉBEC, Dec. 8, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Geoffrey Kelley, Minister responsible for Native Affairs, and Stéphanie Vallée, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Québec and Minister responsible for the Status of Women, today hailed the federal government's launch of a public inquiry into the plight of missing and murdered indigenous women.

"This announcement has long been awaited by aboriginal nations. We praise Prime Minister Trudeau for following through on his commitments so quickly. This inquiry constitutes a significant promise of hope for aboriginal women and their families, which I'm very pleased about. It is our deeply held conviction that together we will find solutions to improve the living conditions of indigenous women. It requires that everyone work together: the chiefs and aboriginal leaders, all levels of government, local stakeholders and civil society," asserted Minister Kelley.

"We have a duty to bring to light what happened to these women and to learn from the errors of the past. This cause is the cause of all women. Indigenous women deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. We must strengthen our partnerships and pursue our efforts in order to better meet the needs of communities dealing with this tragic situation," added Minister Vallée.

"I would like to assure the federal team charged with the inquiry, namely Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and Patricia Hajdu, Minister of the Status of Women, that we will be following the progress of this inquiry attentively, and that they can count on our full cooperation throughout the process, by all means made available to us," said Minister Kelley in closing.

 

SOURCE Cabinet du ministre responsable des Affaires autochtones

Sources: Chantal Gauvin, Press Attaché, Office of the Minister responsible for Native Affairs, 418 643-3166; Jolyane Pronovost, Press Attaché, Office of the Minister of Justice, 418 643-4210