(Ottawa, Ontario) October 21, 2015 – The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) welcomes the new Liberal government under Prime Minster-elect, Mr. Justin Trudeau. CASW commends this new government’s declared commitment to Canada’s Aboriginal populations and optimistically awaits their action on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as well as on the issue of missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls.
In particular, CASW applauds the Liberal Party of Canada’s very public promises to implement all 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), as well as to immediately launch a national inquiry into Canada’s missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. CASW holds Mr. Trudeau and his new government accountable to these promises, hoping to see them realized with haste befitting their gravity.
Indeed, CASW – alongside innumerable other national organizations and coalitions – has continuously called for a comprehensive national inquiry into Canada’s missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. “Canada needs a plan that not only reveals the roots of these atrocities, but takes measurable steps to address them” states CASW President Morel Caissie. “Mr. Trudeau’s predecessor ignored calls for a national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women time after time and another government cannot sit idly by while aboriginal populations continue to grieve.”
Additionally, CASW previously called on the next Government of Canada to make reconciliation central to their mandate by providing a comprehensive response to the TRC Calls to Action. “I hope that Mr. Trudeau proves he is ready for change by respecting Canada’s Aboriginal populations and heeding these calls” said Mr. Caissie. “He’s already made the promises – now he just needs to keep them. And CASW and many others will hold him to account.”
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Fred Phelps, MSW, RSWCASW, Executive Director613-729-6668fred.phelps@casw-acts.ca
