Whereas indigenous women and girls in Canada have been murdered or have gone missing at a rate four times higher than non-indigenous women, despite aboriginal women constituting less than five per cent of the Canadian population; And whereas the homicide rate in the past decade is roughly seven time higher for indigenous women and girls than for all other women and girls in Canada: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the federal government convene a national inquiry into the widespread and severe violence faced by indigenous women and girls in Canada; And be it further resolved that UBCM encourage their member local governments to work together, in collaboration with indigenous womens organizations, to institute a comprehensive response to the widespread and severe violence faced by indigenous women and girls.
Minister of Status of Women Violence against women and girls continues to be a reality for far too many Canadians, and this is unacceptable. Our Government has made it clear that preventing and addressing violence against women and girls is a priority and is committed to taking the necessary steps to address this issue. To support that commitment, I have been mandated to develop and implement a federal gender violence strategy and action plan, aligned with existing provincial and territorial strategies. I will also support the Ministers of Infrastructure and Communities and of Indigenous and Northern Affairs in ensuring that no one fleeing domestic violence is left without a place to turn by growing and maintaining Canadas network of shelters and transition houses. We all agree that the disappearance and murder of nearly 1,200 Indigenous women and girls is an ongoing national tragedy that must be addressed immediately. As you know, I am working with the Ministers of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, and of Justice, to engage with family members of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, National Aboriginal Organizations, and others to seek input on the objectives, scope and parameters of the inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. These perspectives will be essential in order to design the inquiry in a way that meets the needs of those most affected by these tragedies.