Mr. Speaker, your Standing Committee on Social Development is pleased to provide its Report on Bill 2, Missing Persons Act and commends it to the House.
Mr. Speaker, report on Bill 2, Missing Persons Act.
A MESSAGE TO THE FAMILIES OF MISSING PEOPLE
Thank you to the families of missing people that spoke courageously on their thoughts and experiences with the Standing Committee on Social Development. Committee's thoughts are with the family and friends who have experienced the disappearance of a loved one.
RESOURCES AVAILABLE
Committee acknowledges that subject material related to Bill 2 is very challenging for many families across the Northwest Territories. Committee has included resources available for those experiencing the disappearance of a loved one and/or domestic violence, which can be found in Appendix A.
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Bill 2, Missing Persons Act, is intended to assist the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in locating a missing person in the absence of a criminal investigation. The intent of the Missing Persons legislation will provide the RCMP with additional mechanisms to investigate Missing Persons cases in the Northwest Territories. These additional mechanisms will allow RCMP to move more quickly in investigations to locate missing persons when there is no evidence of criminal activity.
In May 2021, the Executive Council directed the Department of Justice to develop Missing Persons legislation in response to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Call for Justice 5.8. MMIWG Call for Justice 5.8 calls for all provinces and territories to enact Missing Persons legislation. The Government of the Northwest Territories made a commitment in "Changing Relationship: Draft Action Plan in Response to the Calls for Justice on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People" to develop this legislation in response to MMIWG Call for Justice 5.8.
A What We Heard report on the drafting of Missing Persons legislation was tabled by the Minister of Justice in July 2023. The Minister of Justice brought Bill 2 forward to the House in the February 2024 Sitting of the 20th Legislative Assembly.
Bill 2, Missing Persons Act received second reading on February 26, 2024, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review.
This report summarizes committee's review of Bill 2, starting with our engagement with the GNWT, the RCMP, and the public. This report also describes committee's efforts to review and strengthen Bill 2, including three motions to amend the bill - all of which were adopted at the clause-by-clause review - and nine recommendations.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to pass it off to the Member for Mackenzie Delta. Thank you.