The matter dominated a fiery question period in the House of Commons, with NDP Leader Tom Mulcair pressing Harper over a scathing report containing allegations from some aboriginal women and girls in northern British Columbia, who say they were sexually or physically abused by Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers.
Responding in French, Harper said the government has asked the Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP to pursue the allegations in the report, and urged anyone with information about them to report it to the appropriate authorities. He said the government itself has no information about the allegations.
The commission is an independent agency created by Parliament to examine public complaints about the RCMP.
The report, from Human Rights Watch, said the RCMP is failing to protect aboriginal women and girls in northern B.C. It recommends that the government establish a national commission of inquiry into the murders and disappearances of indigenous women and girls before the end 0f the year.
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews reiterated the government’s stance in response to a question from NDP Status of Women critic Niki Ashton.
“I have asked the Commissioner for Public Complaints Against the RCMP to follow up on some allegations that have been made. In fact, I would encourage anyone with information that bears on these matters to pass it along to the appropriate authorities,” he said.
The Conservative responses, which didn’t directly address the matter of a national inquiry, prompted outrage from the opposition benches.
Liberal Leader Bob Rae said criminal allegations about the RCMP should be dealt with by an independent police force. He pressed the prime minister on the issue three times, eliciting similar responses.
“If Human Rights Watch, the Liberal party, or anyone else is aware of serious allegations involving criminal activity, they should give that information to the appropriate police so that they can investigate it,” Harper said.
Later, Ashton called the government’s answers “callous” and “out of touch.”
“Families are hurting, communities are hurting and they want to see a commitment to action,” she said. “That’s why we’re calling for an inquiry.”
Aboriginal organizations such as the Assembly of First Nations and the Native Women’s Association of Canada have long called for a national inquiry into violence against aboriginal women.
On Thursday, the House will debate a motion from Liberal aboriginal affairs critic Carolyn Bennett calling for the establishment of a special committee to conduct hearings and “propose solutions to address the root causes of violence against indigenous women across the country.”
Thursday is the Annual Day of Justice for Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women.
Original Article
Source: montrealgazette.com
Author: Michael Woods
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