MMIW: Canadians strongly support inquiry, but have doubts about its ultimate effect – Angus Reid

Press Release

Pessimism driven by doubts recommendations will be followed

March 2, 2016 – As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prepares to meet with indigenous leaders in Vancouver this week, a new survey by the Angus Reid Institute finds widespread support for the government’s promised national inquiry on missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, but skepticism about the eventual outcome of such an inquiry.

Fewer than half of all Canadians say they’re optimistic that the inquiry will ultimately result in a better situation for Aboriginal women in Canada. The most commonly cited reason for this pessimism is the belief that any recommendations the investigation produces won’t be implemented.

Key Findings:

• Four-in-five Canadians (79%) say they’re in favour of a national inquiry, but many of these supporters (37%) are pessimistic that it will make things better for indigenous women when completed

• Central and Atlantic Canadians are more strongly supportive than those who live in western Canada – but majorities in all regions support an inquiry

• Canadian women are more supportive of an inquiry – and more optimistic about its outcome – than men

Four-in-five support inquiry

Indigenous women in Canada are roughly six times more likely than other women to be victims of homicide. RCMP reports have identified roughly 1,200 cases of Aboriginal women and girls who have been murdered or gone missing since 1980, but the federal cabinet ministers charged with leading the pre-inquiry public consultation process say they that the actual number may be as high as 4,000.

As the public awaits the government’s terms of reference for the inquiry, this poll finds four-in-five Canadians (79%) in favour of conducting one – 36 per cent strongly in favour, and 43 per cent generally. This is a slight increase from ARI’s 2014 survey on this topic, and significantly higher than the 44 per cent of British Columbia residents who supported an inquiry in that province in 2010.

Read More: http://angusreid.org/missing-murdered-women-inquiry/

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