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Speaking on Reclaiming Power and Place - the National Report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

 On Tuesday June 1, I spoke in response to a Ministerial statement about the final report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, a report entitled “Reclaiming Power and Place”. My comments (from Hansard) are below.

MMIWG2S National Inquiry Final Report

Mr. Gerrard: Mr. Deputy Speaker, the national re­port on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls entitled Reclaiming Power and Place re­leased two years ago revealed the tragic and unsettling details of what had long been suspected in relation to the many missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

      I join others in acknowledging these tragedies and in dedicating myself and our Liberal team to ensuring that issues raised are followed through and that the recommendations in the report, which are directed at all governments, including our provincial govern­ment, are followed to the extent that they possibly can.

      As chief commissioner Marion Buller said in the report, it is about beautiful Indigenous people and the systemic factors that led to their losses of dignity, hum­anity and, in too many cases, losses of life.

      Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people in Canada have been the targets of violence for far too long. There are many voices in the final report. Indeed, more than 2,380 participated in the national inquiry and its truth-gathering process. The report it­self insists on self-determined solutions distinctive to the needs of those most affected as rights-bearers and issues 231 calls for justice from all governments.

      I look forward to the national plan. I also look forward to a provincial plan because many of the actions which are needed are, in fact, under provincial jurisdiction. The report deals with health and well­ness, human security, justice, police services, attor­neys, law societies, education, child welfare and many, many more, and many of these issues are dealt with at a provincial level, at least in part, and in many cases to a large extent.

      We need a full provincial plan, and we hope that the minister will bring it forward. It is really impor­tant. This was probably one of the most extensive commissions that we have had nationally, and the ramifications at the provincial level are very large.

      An Ontario study of gender diverse and two-spirited Indigenous people found that 73 per cent had experienced some form of violence due to trans­phobia, with 43 per cent having experienced phys­ical and/or sexual violence.

      It is time to end this violence. It is time to imple­ment all the 231 recommendations. It is time for a full provincial plan, as well as the national plan, which we are expecting shortly.

      Thank you. Merci. Miigwech.

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