Canada's NDP

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August 19th, 2014

Conservatives’ failure to act is unconscionable

Following the discovery of a 15-year-old First Nations girl’s body in a Winnipeg river, New Democrats are again urging the Conservative government to take action and call a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women.

“The murder of Tina Fontaine is a national tragedy,” said NDP Status of Women critic Niki Ashton (Churchill). “There must be justice for this young woman and all missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Victims, families and communities deserve answers.”

Tina Fontaine was reported missing on August 9. Recent RCMP findings confirm that Indigenous women are seven times more likely to be victims of violence.

“No human being, let alone a 15-year-old young woman, deserves to die in this way and my heart goes out to her family and community,” said NDP Aboriginal Affairs critic Jean Crowder (Nanaimo Cowichan). “It is unconscionable for the Conservatives to continue to ignore the demands for action and an inquiry.”