The Canadian government received an F for implementing its National Action Plan on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), according to an analysis conducted by the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC). .“We are disappointed to report our annual scorecard shows the federal government has gone another year without meaningful action to end the genocide,” said NWAC CEO Lynne Groulx in a Thursday press release..“The federal government’s lack of action is baffling considering both the clear recommendations of the National Inquiry into MMIWG’s 231 Calls for Justice and the strong public support to address the epidemic of gender-based violence experienced by indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.”.The scorecard was issued in advance of Saturday being the second anniversary of the national action plan. Those results provide a stark picture of the government’s progress in addressing the safety needs of indigenous women and girls. .A poll conducted by Nanos Research on behalf of NWAC found four-fifths of Canadians want the government to take action to provide justice for MMIWG. The poll said Canadians were more than two times more likely to rate the job done by the government as poor rather than good. .Groulx said the discrepancy between people’s priorities and the government’s actions “suggests there is a concerning lack of political will to end systemic racism and violence against indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in Canada.” She added the NWAC is concerned about the message that sends about Canada’s commitment to reconciliation and the value the government places on the lives of indigenous people. .Instead of tangible actions, the release said the Canadian government continues to rely on the optics of funding commitments directed to the calls of justice. As the scorecard points out, funding allocations do not equal progress on their own and are difficult to track without adequate accountability mechanisms. .Groulx accused the government of committing an ongoing genocide. She asked how many more names have to be added to the list of MMIWG before it takes serious action. .Given the dismal progress made this year by the government on its National Action Plan, NWAC is calling for it to address its failing grade. It recommends it consult with indigenous people to develop an actionable implementation plan and establish accountability measures to ensure progress is measured moving forward. .Groulx concluded by saying it's time for the Canadian government “to recognize and take accountability for the fact that their National Action Plan was fundamentally flawed from the outset.” .“It isn’t enough to express hopes and goals to end the violence without a measurable, costed plan to make these a reality,” she said. .Saskatchewan NDP MLA Betty Nippi-Albright (Saskatoon Centre) launched the Declaration to Honour First Nations Women and Girls in 2022. .READ MORE: Red Dress Day creates awareness of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in Sask.“We know indigenous women are three to five times more likely to experience violence than non-indigenous women,” said Nippi-Albright. .“This is unacceptable.”
