Close X
Thursday, December 12, 2024
ADVT 
National

Ex-Liberals in Senate offer legal arguments for missing, murdered women inquiry

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Nov, 2014 11:08 AM
  • Ex-Liberals in Senate offer legal arguments for missing, murdered women inquiry

OTTAWA — Former Liberals in the Senate are offering up ready-made legal arguments to anyone willing to take the federal government to court in order to force a national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls.

They say they are taking the legal route because Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government refuses to heed the calls of aboriginal groups, civil-liberty organizations and opposition parties to hold an inquiry.

"I think that there is no other choice than to go to court," said Sen. Serge Joyal, who wrote the legal argument.

"This is a way to press upon the government in a more efficient manner, so the government will have to defend its stance in court and be shamed by public opinion. That, I think, might compel the government to act, finally."

Joyal, a lawyer by training, cites sections of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, other legal cases and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to buttress his argument for an inquiry.

He and his Senate colleague Lillian Dyck are in the early stages of finding someone who will take the case to Federal Court.

"The first party to launch an action is normally a person who is directly aggrieved or a person who has a direct interest," Joyal said.

Such a case could be before the courts for years.

But Joyal and Dyck say a court case would put pressure on the Conservative government to call an inquiry, something it has so far refused to do.

"It could be an aspect of shaming," Dyck said.

"It could also be alerting Canadians to the fact that there is a underlying right amongst aboriginal women to be protected. And therefore, it might also then somehow increase pressure in other ways.

"It may not be through a formal organization, but you know, there is an election coming up, and pressure could be put on their local members of Parliament."

The Conservatives have resisted calls for an inquiry, saying dozens of studies have already been done and now is the time for action.

The government's latest budget included a five-year, $25-million renewal of money aimed at stopping violence against aboriginal women and girls.

Kellie Leitch, the minister for the status of women, recently elaborated on how the money will be spent.

Over the next five years:

— $8.6 million will be spent to develop community safety plans;

— $2.5 million will be spent on projects to raise awareness of the cycles of violence and abuse;

— $5 million will be spent on projects to encourage boys and men to denounce and prevent violence against aboriginal women and girls;

— $7.5 million will be spent on victim services and help for victims and families;

— $1.4 million will be spent on sharing information and resources with communities and organizations and to report on progress and results.

The government is also spending additional money on shelters and activities to prevent family violence, a DNA-based missing persons database and continuing support for police investigations through the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains and special RCMP project teams.

MORE National ARTICLES

Stephen Harper Homeward Bound After G20 Summit

Stephen Harper Homeward Bound After G20 Summit
BRISBANE, Australia - Canada will soon contribute to a United Nations climate fund that helps impoverished nations cope with climate change and to develop cleaner sources of energy, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Sunday.

Stephen Harper Homeward Bound After G20 Summit

Teaching Consent At A Young Age Could Help Prevent Sex Assaults, Say Experts

Teaching Consent At A Young Age Could Help Prevent Sex Assaults, Say Experts
Sexual assault allegations against former CBC Radio host Jian Ghomeshi have sparked a national conversation about how to facilitate the reporting of such incidents, but some advocates say the focus should instead be on prevention.

Teaching Consent At A Young Age Could Help Prevent Sex Assaults, Say Experts

Municipal Elections In B.C. End In Defeat For Several Longstanding Mayors

Municipal Elections In B.C. End In Defeat For Several Longstanding Mayors
VANCOUVER — As Vancouver's mayor won a decisive victory in this weekend's municipal election, communities across the province were electing new mayors, sometimes at the cost of the incumbents.

Municipal Elections In B.C. End In Defeat For Several Longstanding Mayors

Vancouver's Mayor Gregor Robertson Wins Re-election

Vancouver's Mayor Gregor Robertson Wins Re-election
VANCOUVER - Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson won re-election Saturday, soundly defeating a former journalist despite indications late in the campaign that the mayor's bid for a third term was in trouble.

Vancouver's Mayor Gregor Robertson Wins Re-election

Aussies Take Note Of Harper's Putin Smackdown

Aussies Take Note Of Harper's Putin Smackdown
BRISBANE, Australia - Russia's Vladimir Putin departed the Group of 20 summit earlier than planned on Saturday following some tense encounters with Western leaders, including an admonishment from Stephen Harper to "get out of Ukraine."

Aussies Take Note Of Harper's Putin Smackdown

Vancouver's Mayor Prepares For Judgment Over Aggressive Progressive Agenda

Vancouver's Mayor Prepares For Judgment Over Aggressive Progressive Agenda
VANCOUVER — Polls have closed in Vancouver's civic election, which threatens to unseat the current mayor over complaints he has moved too aggressively on issues such as bike lanes and social housing without listening to the public.

Vancouver's Mayor Prepares For Judgment Over Aggressive Progressive Agenda