YOU ASKED: What are Parry Sound-Muskoka MP, MPP doing to help Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls?

At the beginning of October, hundreds across the country partook in an annual event to commemorate the lives of missing and murdered  Indigenous women and girls. Sisters in Spirit vigils were held in  communities across Canada on Sunday, Oct. 4 to honour their lives and  bring attention to the ongoing issue.

At Wáhta Mohawk Territory’s vigil on Oct. 4, community member Tim  Thompson addressed the small group gathered outside the territory’s  Cultural Healing Centre. He said he hopes to see political leaders at  all levels of government develop plans to tackle the calls for justice  from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and  Girls, published last June.

“Although many of the calls for justice are focused on all levels of  government, individual MPs and MPPs have a critical role in ensuring  that this remains a priority and to ensure that the report is not  shelved like so many others,” he said in an email.

Parry Sound—Muskoka MP Scott Aitchison said, as part of  the Parliament’s official opposition, he’s involved pushing the  government to complete their calls for justice.

“There’s, obviously, a lot more work to do,” he said.

The Conservative Party of Canada last addressed the national inquiry  in the House of Commons on Oct. 23: Kenora MP Eric Melillo asked when  the federal government will present “a real plan” to keep Indigenous  women and girls safe.

When asked about calls to justice relevant to his riding, Aitchison  did not name specific ones but said he wants to raise awareness among  all Canadians about the importance of First Nations cultures to protect  and revive them. Section two of the national inquiry report includes  such calls for justice.

In an email statement, Parry Sound—Muskoka MPP Norm Miller called  violence against Indigenous women and girls “entirely unacceptable.”

“I believe the best way to honour those women and girls who have been  victims of violence is to work to prevent future Indigenous women and  girls from being victimized,” he wrote.

Miller said he supports the work the province is doing on human  trafficking, which, according to the Ontario Native Women’s Association,  disproportionately affects Indigenous women and girls in Ontario. In  November 2019, the government pledged to spend $20 million a year, for  an undefined number of years, to support service programs fighting human  trafficking.

Miller added he supports Simcoe North MPP Jill Dunlop’s creation of  an Indigenous women’s advisory council for Indigenous women to help  shape relevant provincial policies. Many criticized Dunlop when the  province announced the council’s formation for taking the role of  co-chair despite not being Indigenous.

“Minister Dunlop has demonstrated that she will listen to the council  and to Indigenous women generally by stepping back as co-chair,” Miller  wrote. Cora McGuire-Cyrette, Ontario Native Women’s Association’s  executive director, replaced Dunlop.

“I will be very interested to see what policies this council  recommends. In the spirit of reconciliation, I will listen to the advice  from the council and advocate for their recommendations,” he wrote.

Zahraa Hmood, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Parry Sound North Star