Missing Women

Presentation by Libby Davies (Member of Parliament for Vancouver East) to Commissioner Wally Oppal and others gathered at the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, Community Engagement Forum, held Jan. 19, 2011

Mr. Oppal, respected elders, family members and members of the community,

I thought hard about how to begin today, having been involved with this tragedy of the missing women since the 1980s, when I was a Vancouver City Councillor.

For years I, like many, called for a public inquiry into the missing and murdered women. And here it is -- the public inquiry is happening. It's imperfect; not exactly as called for; and too limited in its scope of years, which is very worrisome as to why. But nevertheless it is a public inquiry -- and that's really important.

But already I'm thinking, and I hate that I'm thinking this: What faith do I have that this inquiry will result in any real change? Will it be another weighty report, well intentioned but destined for the back shelf and forgotten?

I'd like to say to you today, Commissioner Oppal, that I believe your biggest challenge is to produce a report that cannot be ignored, nor forgotten, nor dismissed. It must be a report that addresses the deeply disturbing and egregious wrongs done by our society to the most defenceless people in our community. Your report must have built-in mechanisms that ensure its active follow up. All of us as witnesses, experts, victims, families, friends and advocates must compel you to issue a report that is bullet proof, hard hitting and will cause shock waves as to what went wrong and why.