Manitoba NDP promise Indigenous drop-in centres, special adviser for MMIWG families if elected

A Manitoba NDP government would set up three drop-in centres for Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people, and bring back the role of a special adviser who supported the community, the Opposition party promised Friday.

In front of the monument at The Forks to missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people, MLA Nahanni Fontaine unveiled a number of campaign commitments to help Indigenous families harmed by violence and protect other members of the community. 

"I don't think that it's necessarily one thing that is going to end the crisis or epidemic levels of violence against Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited" people, said Fontaine, who stood behind a display of framed photos of MMIWG victims across the country.

"It is going to be a series of things that we are committed to that will do that, and this is just the beginning stages."

The NDP would open three drop-in centres, operating 24 hours a day, to ensure Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people have a safe place specifically for them. It would provide emergency help and a range of community supports, Fontaine said.

The party said it would first open a centre in Winnipeg, followed by centres in Brandon and Thompson. The annual operating costs for one centre would be $3 million, the party estimates.

The centre in Winnipeg would be named in honour of Marcedes Myran, Morgan Harris and Rebecca Contois — three of the four First Nations women who police believe were victims of an alleged serial killer. Fontaine said she has the families' support for that recognition. 

The drop-in centres would be separate from existing shelter options.

Fontaine, a longtime advocate for Indigenous people, said she woke up one morning to several messages from a young woman who, along with her nine-month-old baby, had been kicked out of their place by her partner. She slept that night in a bus shelter.

"She had nowhere to go, so a 24/7 drop-in centre mitigates those circumstances," she said.

MMIWG adviser

Fontaine said the NDP would also reinstate a special adviser on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people, who would provide a direct connection with families and guidance to government.

That position was held by Fontaine when the NDP were in power, but was discontinued by the newly elected Progressive Conservative government in 2016. Fontaine also became a MLA that year.

The NDP also has plans to expand the mandate of the gender-based violence committee of cabinet to prioritize MMIWG and work toward implementing the 231 calls to justice from the 2019 final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

A specific unit would be created within the Department of Justice to help Indigenous families navigate the justice system in a culturally appropriate fashion.

It would also create a government database to track MMIWG victims within Manitoba.

Fontaine said the party would work to develop police standards in collaboration with community members and families to ensure there are consistent benchmarks in place whenever MMIWG cases are investigated.

The party said it would provide a more detailed price estimate closer to the provincial election, scheduled for Oct. 3.

Fontaine had the backing at the news conference of several MMIWG families, including family members of Jennifer McPherson, Jennifer Johnston, Serena McKay, Tina Fontaine, Roberta McIvor, Eishia Hudson and Claudette Osborne.

It's been 10 years since Gerri Pangman's sister, Jennifer McPherson, was killed by her husband. 

Pangman told reporters she believes a new government would be more receptive to the concerns of MMIWG families.

"I can honestly say I feel a sigh of relief and feel that families and survivors of MMIWG2S will have their voices heard once again," she said.

Premier Heather Stefanson said her government has made significant investments toward addressing missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people.

"I do believe that there is more work that we can do, but there are significant steps that we've already taken," she said.

The government responded to CBC News with a list of dozens of initiatives, including supporting the creation of Giganawenimaanaanig, an implementation committee focused on the MMIWG Calls for Justice, developing an Indigenous-led walk-in addiction clinic, offering vocational training to Indigenous women and the employment of two family liaison contacts who work with policing agencies to assist the families of missing and murdered Indigenous persons. 

NDP mum on their financial commitment to landfill search

Meanwhile, NDP Leader Wab Kinew reaffirmed his commitment to a landfill search for the remains of two First Nations women, but wouldn't reveal how much a government under his leadership would spend.

"I don't want to prejudice any potential future negotiations with the federal government by announcing what we would do right now," he said.

The Progressive Conservative government said last month it wouldn't support a search of the landfill, citing dangers to searchers highlighted in a feasibility report. The provincial Liberals have say they'll cover half of the total cost, which the report said would take between $84 million and $184 million. 

Kinew said an NDP government may seek a second quote on the total price of the search.

He said they'd look at different scenarios to ensure the search is feasible, such as potentially using search animals. He said the feasibility study spoke to one group of experts who thought it wasn't responsible, but other experts think it could be viable.

"What we're saying is the feasibility study gives us a road map, but working with the families, putting their well-being top of mind, we can also look at various other scenarios and come up with a solution that provides a path forward."

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