Canada's NDP

NDP

December 6th, 2022

NDP calls for immediate and substantial resources to address MMIWG crisis

New Democrats also called for federal assistance in searching for the remains of lost loved ones in Winnipeg

OTTAWA — On Tuesday, NDP Critic for Women and Gender Equality, Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre), called on the Liberal government for immediate and substantial resources to address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) crisis and federal assistance in searching for the remains of lost loved ones.

This call comes in response to last week’s charges announced by the Winnipeg Police Services against an alleged serial killer for the murder of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran, two First Nations women, and a third woman that Elders and the community have named Buffalo Woman (Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe).

“Our community and Indigenous people across the country are reeling. The loss of our four precious sisters is part of what the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, and the Prime Minister himself, have characterized as an ongoing genocide,” said Gazan. “The Liberal government must provide immediate funding and resources to stop this injustice, and protect Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people.”

Gazan was joined by Elders including Bruce Wilfred, relatives of Morgan Harris, Manitoba chiefs including Kyra Wilson of Long Plain First Nation, Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, chair of the National Family and Survivors Circle and human rights advocates to collectively call on the federal government to urgently take action to stop this crisis and provide support to locate the remains of the murdered women.

“Enough is enough. This is an emergency, and a human rights crisis,” added Gazan. “Survivors, advocates and community leaders are counting on the federal government to act urgently to deliver the funding and necessary resources to stop this genocide. New Democrats won’t stop fighting for justice.”