Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the NDP, I express our deep sympathy to and support for the families, friends and communities of Vancouver's missing women. They have suffered terrible losses and a long, arduous trial.
Many troubling issues remain. Why did so many women go missing? Why are sex workers in particular at such great risk? Why are these women disproportionately aboriginal?
The verdict for these women must compel us to act, to seek answers and to make changes that will minimize the risk and harm that sex workers face.
In memory of all the women who have gone missing across Canada, we demand action from the government to repeal harmful laws, improve police training, and ensure basic human rights are met, such as affordable housing, a living wage, social supports, and an end to poverty and violence.
We call for a public inquiry into the policing issues surrounding the missing women. No person in our society should experience the danger and harm that these women faced.
Changes must be made at every level so that the women who are at risk today will not be at risk tomorrow.