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

A ManitobaNDP government would set up three drop-in centres for Indigenous women, girls and two-spiritpeople, and bring back the role ofa special adviser who supported the community, the Opposition party promised Friday.

In front of themonument at The Forks to missing and murdered Indigenous women,girls and two-spirit people, MLA Nahanni Fontaine unveileda number of campaign commitments to helpIndigenous 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 ofthings that we are committed to that will do that, and thisis just the beginning stages."

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

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

The centre in Winnipeg would be named in honour ofMarcedes Myran, Morgan Harris and Rebecca Contois three of the fourFirst Nations women who police believe werevictims of an alleged serial killer. Fontaine said she has the families' support for thatrecognition.

The drop-in centres would be separate from existingshelter options.

Fontaine, a longtime advocate for Indigenous people, said she woke up one morning to several messages from ayoung woman who, along with her nine-month-old baby, had been kicked out of their placeby 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

Fontainesaid the NDP would also reinstate aspecial adviser on missing and murdered Indigenous women,girls and two-spirit people, who would provide a direct connection with families and guidance togovernment.

That position was held by Fontainewhen theNDPwere in power, but wasdiscontinued by the newly elected Progressive Conservativegovernment in 2016. Fontainealso 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 the231 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 navigatethe 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 andfamilies 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, includingfamily members ofJennifer McPherson,JenniferJohnston, Serena McKay, Tina Fontaine, Roberta McIvor, EishiaHudson and Claudette Osborne.

It's been 10 years sinceGerriPangman'ssister, 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 addressingmissing and murderedIndigenous 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, animplementation committee focused on theMMIWG 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 workwith 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 Kinewreaffirmed 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 governmentsaid last monthit wouldn't support a search of the landfill, citing dangers to searchershighlighted in afeasibility 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 anNDP government mayseek 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 expertswho 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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