Pickton inquiry needs broad scope

BY LIZ STONARD, TIMES COLONIST
SEPTEMBER 14, 2010

While an inquiry into police investigations of missing women and Robert Pickton is appropriate, it would be unfair to leave it at that.

Pickton's victims and all other women who have been or will become victims of such vile predators deserve more. And the police, whose "Odd Squad" and others have done yeomen's duty in past years to shed light on the depths of medical and social issues plaguing Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, deserve more.

After all, our police are not solely responsible for protecting society's vulnerable.

Their ability to do their job depends on broader support from government agencies such as social services.

So besides inquiring into police investigations, it is past time to also inquire what government social-service supports have been available to our most vulnerable citizens.

Services that should include more than just doling out financial allowances and referring clients to a host of unco-ordinated, non-government-funded community resources.

Do government social services take a social history of their clients, like medical personnel take a medical history? Does government just tell clients what government thinks they should have, rather than finding out what they actually need? How many of Pickton's victims had tried to access the government ministry responsible for social services, only to find access difficult, if not impossible?

Let's have an inquiry into government policies that have contributed to the vulnerability of these women who are then easy prey for predators like the Robert Picktons of the world.

Liz Stonard

Port Alberni

© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

Comment: Big question, hardly ever talked about. What happened to many of these women as children in their own families while growing up, whether they were in foster care or their natural family? Was there abuse? Violence, sexual, psychological abuse? Something happens to a child and then we don’t hear their story until they do end up in the survival sex trade and in many cases murdered by people like Pickton.

Any statistics through studies that you can quote state that 80 to 90 percent of women in the survival sex trade have been abused as children. Let’s deal with it. Let’s talk about it. Let’s do something positive instead of always having to deal with the end result. Violence and murder.

R.I.P. Sarah Jean de Vries.


- Wayne

Are the feds foot-dragging on fund for murdered women? asks Crey

Published: June 15, 2010 9:00 AM
It's been six months and still no word.

Chilliwack resident Ernie Crey is asking when the federal government will announce specific plans for the $10 million fund set aside to address the issue of murdered and missing women.

Ernie's sister, Dawn Crey, a member of the Cheam First Nation, vanished from the streets of Vancouver's downtown eastside in the fall of 2000. Her DNA was found by police in 2004 during their investigation of a property owned by the family of convicted killer, Robert 'Willie' Pickton.

"Although I was unsure about how the government intended to use the money, I was pleased they set aside the funds to address the issue of murdered and missing women," Crey said.

"Given that six months have gone by since the federal government announced the $10 million, I am not convinced they have come up with a plan yet."

Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl was out of the country and not available for comment said INAC press secretary Michelle Yao.

"But I can tell you that our government is committed to ensuring that all women in Canada, including Aboriginal women, are safe and secure regardless of the community in which they live," she wrote in an e-mailed statement to the Progress.

In terms of the $10 million investment announced in the 2010 federal budget, Yao said the government "continues to work in partnership with provincial and territorial governments, Aboriginal people, and other stakeholders to develop more effective and appropriate solutions and to establish collaborative responses to this pressing matter, including improved police investigations.

"I want to reinforce that concrete actions will be taken to ensure that law enforcement and the justice system meet the needs of Aboriginal women and their families."

But the delay is unacceptable, said Crey.

"This is disheartening for the families of the murdered and missing women across Canada because there are so many worthy women’s organizations in desperate need of resources to continue their good work with vulnerable woman like my sister Dawn," said Crey.

People are growing impatient with "the foot dragging and apparent secrecy" surrounding the fund, and Crey hopes they'll be announcing a plan shortly.

"I can’t stop thinking about my sister and wonder if one day someone will be charged in connection with her death," Crey wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Steven Harper. "My brothers and sisters seldom speak about Dawn because they are deeply troubled about her final days and the circumstances under which she disappeared. Eventually, I may just have to accept the fact that Dawn is gone and that no one will ever be held accountable for her disappearance. In the meantime, I await the results of an on-going police investigation."

He gives the feds the benefit of the doubt to some extent in his letter.

"It may be that the $10 million is already in play, going to worthy organizations working on behalf of vulnerable women like my sister Dawn. If the money is being put to good use, I think your government should simply explain how the fund is managed and publicize the names of the organizations receiving support."

jfeinberg@theprogress.com