Executive Council
Justice and Public Safety
December 1, 2016

Supporting a National Inquiry

Provincial Government Issues Order in Council for Commission of Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, has issued an Order in Council, which establishes the Commission of Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in this province under the Public Inquiries Act, 2006. The Terms of Reference and commissioners for the inquiry were announced by the Federal Government on August 3, 2016.

“We have engaged provincial Aboriginal governments and organizations to determine their views on the objectives of the Commission of Inquiry and to inform our government’s participation and support. It is important that key issues in the area of education, health care and the justice system be examined and we must strive to ensure that our country does a better job of making decisions that reflect the needs of Indigenous people while respecting their rich cultural heritage and history.”
- The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs

Canada has asked all provinces and territories to constitute a provincial inquiry with a similar Terms of Reference and appoint the same commissioners. The intention is to ensure the commission can review areas of provincial and territorial jurisdiction.

“Today we are affirming our government’s commitment to enable the Commission of Inquiry, jointly with the Government of Canada and the governments of other provinces and territories, to inquire into and report on, missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada. We were pleased to be consulted on the Terms of Reference for the inquiry and we welcomed the launch of the inquiry by the Federal Government in August.”
- The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General

The Government of Canada launched the inquiry on December 8, 2015, which was followed by a three-month pre-inquiry engagement process. On February 26, 2016, at the National Roundtable on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the federal, provincial and territorial governments agreed to participation and full cooperation in a National Inquiry.

QUICK FACTS

• The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, has issued an Order in Council establishing the Commission of Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
• The inquiry is established in this province under the Public Inquiries Act, 2006.
• The Order in Council affirms the Provincial Government’s commitment to enable the Commission of Inquiry, jointly with the Government of Canada and the governments of other provinces and territories, to inquire into and report on, missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada.
• The Government of Canada launched the inquiry on December 8, 2015.

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Media contacts:

Michelle Cannizzaro Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3960 michellecannizzaro@gov.nl.ca

Lesley Clarke (A) Director of Communications Department of Justice and Public Safety 709-729-6985, 699-2910 lesleyclarke@gov.nl.ca

2016 12 01                              12:35 p.m.