The federal government has begun to study a proposal to create an alert system for missing Indigenous women and girls.
It is being called the Red Dress Alert
Manitoba MP Leah Ghazan put forward the idea last year.
“We’ve also heard a lot of disappointment in the lack of progress around addressing the crisis of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls and the fact that this government has only responded to two calls for justice to date,” says Ghazan.
“This is a big step forward, but there’s a push around the urgency to get this out and ensuring whatever system gets this out, whatever system gets out, that it reflects the systemic gaps that are currently in place.”
Ghazan’s motion received all-party support last spring.
She says there has been some consultation before the proposal reached the committee stage.
There are local alert systems in parts of British Columbia and Nova Scotia being looked at for advice.
Some U.S. states also have systems in place specific for missing Indigenous women and girls.
There is no timetable as to when a system can be implemented.
The proposal is now before the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, which has scheduled five meetings to gather input.
“We will continue to do so. I don’t want to, however, wait forever. We are in an emergency. There needs to be a very clear deadline, and I think we’ll know that in the near future.”
Ghazan also wants proper consultations with the Indigenous community.
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