TORONTO – The United Steelworkers (USW) welcomes the launch of a national public inquiry into Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women.
“This is long overdue,” said USW National Director Ken Neumann. “Like any important work, it must be done well and result in real action.
“In the meantime, there are things the federal government can do now to make Aboriginal women’s lives safer, such as increasing funding for housing, education, social services and Aboriginal women’s organizations,” he said.
Neumann urged the federal government to follow advice from and work collaboratively with Aboriginal leaders, Aboriginal women’s organizations and communities to ensure that the inquiry is properly structured and given adequate resources.
“An effective inquiry, and action on its recommendations, will bring some comfort to grieving families and communities,” Neumann said. “It will also be a step in healing the wounds in our relationship with Canada’s First Peoples.”
USW members and leaders have been vocal in calling for a national inquiry. Neumann promised that Steelworkers will continue to be active after its work is done, to ensure that real social and structural change takes place to improve the lives of Aboriginal women and girls, and their families and communities.
The United Steelworkers represents workers from coast to coast to coast, including members of First Nations, Inuit and Métis heritages. We note with sadness that USW families are among those to suffer the loss of loved ones.
Ken Neumann, USW National Director, 416-544-5951
Bob Gallagher, USW Communications, 416-544-5966, 416-434-2221, bgallagher@usw.ca
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