MEDIA RELEASE - Liberals’ fail to protect Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people

WINNIPEG — NDP Critic for the Status of Women, Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre) is asking why the Liberal government didn’t allocate new funding in last week’s budget to implement the 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Since the inquiry released its findings in 2019, the Liberals have yet to release a national action plan with targets, timelines and funding to address this ongoing genocide, and their inaction is costing Indigenous women their lives.
“Rates of violence against Indigenous women and girls have dramatically increased during the pandemic, and the Liberal government keeps stalling on implementing all Calls for Justice,” said Gazan. “Last week’s budget was yet another opportunity for the Liberals to show that they are truly committed to a plan backed by real funding to implement the Calls for Justice, but again they’re failing to do what’s necessary. They chose to give billions to big oil companies while leaving out much needed investments to make life safer for Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people. This is unacceptable.”

April 13th, 2022

Liberals’ fail to protect Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people

WINNIPEG — NDP Critic for the Status of Women, Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre) is asking why the Liberal government didn’t allocate new funding in last week’s budget to implement the 231 Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Since the inquiry released its findings in 2019, the Liberals have yet to release a national action plan with targets, timelines and funding to address this ongoing genocide, and their inaction is costing Indigenous women their lives.

“Rates of violence against Indigenous women and girls have dramatically increased during the pandemic, and the Liberal government keeps stalling on implementing all Calls for Justice,” said Gazan. “Last week’s budget was yet another opportunity for the Liberals to show that they are truly committed to a plan backed by real funding to implement the Calls for Justice, but again they’re failing to do what’s necessary. They chose to give billions to big oil companies while leaving out much needed investments to make life safer for Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people. This is unacceptable.”

In the lead up to the budget, Gazan has called on the Liberals numerous times to include immediate, targeted and adequate funding to implement the 231 Calls for Justice. While Indigenous women are at least 4.5 times more likely to be murdered than non-indigenous women, the Liberals are showing no signs of an action plan to heed the calls of the National Inquiry into MMIWG. New Democrats are calling on the Liberals to act urgently on this matter to save lives.

“Our lives are valuable. We are not disposable,” said Gazan. “The government must implement a national action plan with timelines and resources to address this crisis. Too many families are mourning the loss of their loved-ones and waiting for answers. The Liberals must act urgently to save lives.”

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