Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to respond to my colleague. I would have done so two weeks ago, but she was not here.
Violence against women, and, in particular, against aboriginal women, is a priority for our government. We all know that the incidence of abuse against aboriginal women is higher and more violent than against other women.
That is why we are working to find answers to the complex issues surrounding the disappearance and murder of aboriginal women and girls in Canada, in particular by supporting the Sisters in Spirit initiative, run by the Native Women's Association of Canada, in collaboration with several departments.
Sisters in Spirit has been around for five years, and does the groundwork so that we can attack the root causes of violence against aboriginal women and girls.
Putting an end to violence against women is everyone's responsibility. It is the responsibility of all levels of government, of the police and of the justice system, but also of society in general.
In regard to the justice system, there are currently four provincial investigations underway, and the RCMP is participating in them. It is important to note that at the request of the Minister of State, the Native Women's Association will exchange information with the RCMP investigators.
Since 2007, our government has supported 117 projects that address all forms of violence against women, including violence against aboriginal women.
A federal-provincial-territorial working group made up of senior criminal justice system officials is reviewing judicial interventions in cases involving serial killers who target the most vulnerable women.
Justice Canada is playing an active role in the working group, and Status of Women Canada is actively participating in federal-provincial-territorial subcommittees on healing and on missing and murdered aboriginal women. Together with federal, provincial, territorial and regional partners, Justice Canada is working hard to improve criminal justice system interventions in cases involving missing and murdered aboriginal women.
Our government believes that the solution to the problem of missing and murdered aboriginal women and to the larger problem of violence against women lies in gender equality. We will keep working to end violence against all Canadian women.
Violence against women, aboriginal or otherwise, is unacceptable. Yes, it is up to the government to do something, but it is also up to people from all walks of life to work together to find solutions to end gratuitous violence against women.