Inquiry into murdered Canadian women requests extension

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada

The head of an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls asked the Canadian government Tuesday for a two-year extension to complete its work.

The five-member commission has been crisscrossing the country, hearing from families of the women and others, but was running out of time, with a scheduled wrap-up at the end of this year.

It is estimated that between 1,017 to 4,000 indigenous women disappeared or were killed between 1980 and 2012.

“The commissioners and I firmly believe that an additional two years is required to do justice to our critically important mandate” into the crimes, said chief commissioner Marion Buller in a statement Tuesday.

“The response from families, survivors and indigenous communities been overwhelming, and we have a sacred responsibility to continue moving forward.”

The Canadian government established the commission in late 2015 to look into the missing and murdered women and it began its work in September 2016. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police put the estimated number of women killed or missing at 1,017, but indigenous groups say the number is much higher.

So far, the commission has heard from 763 people during 134 public hearings. Hundreds of others have registered to appear before the commission.

Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett said she would speak with families and fellow government ministers to determine if the granting of an extension is warranted, but her words Tuesday seemed to favor the request.

“The families of these women and girls need answers to the systemic and institutional failures that led to the murder of so many indigenous women,” she said, adding that the government is committed to “putting an end to this ongoing tragedy”.