Mr. Speaker, August 2, 2003 will mark 10 years since 14 year old Lindsey Nicholls went missing without a trace while hitchhiking to Courtenay to visit friends.
DNA is a critical tool in solving cases like Lindsey's. Despite this, the government has not created a missing persons DNA database.
There are over 6,000 unidentified DNA samples taken from crime scenes and 125 unidentified bodies in British Columbia morgues alone. Right now there is no way to link these samples to missing persons.
It is said that the average murder investigation costs $750,000. Collecting a DNA sample would cost $100.
I am currently drafting legislation to address these key gaps. In the coming weeks I will be asking each member for his or her support.
This is not about privacy for criminals. This is not about money. This is about justice, justice for Lindsey Nicholls, her family and every other missing person in this country.