(Toronto, ON – October 6, 2023) Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare has issued the following statement offering congratulatory remarks to newly elected Premier of Manitoba, Wab Kinew, while continuing to advocate for the full-scale Winnipeg landfill searches to be conducted:

“I am thrilled to congratulate Wab Kinew, Manitoba’s newly elected Premier, and the first First Nations person in history to take on the role,” said Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare. “I am looking forward to seeing the progress of Manitoba’s newly elected New Democratic Party, as Premier Kinew embarks upon this new and exciting opportunity.”

After nearly seven years of a Progressive Conservative government holding power in Manitoba, Premier Kinew’s New Democratic Party will officially take over and will form a majority government. Premier Kinew will also serve as Manitoba’s first Indigenous political leader in 145 years.

“Premier Kinew’s resilience and commitment to bettering the province of Manitoba is truly remarkable, and I am hopeful that under his new leadership, we will see work undertaken to address many of the ongoing issues that are affecting First Nations, not only in Manitoba, but across the country, and that we may see tangible results from his government’s efforts.”

“I also continue to advocate and call for the Government of Manitoba to conduct full-scale forensic searches of the privately-owned Winnipeg landfill where police believe the remains of at least two Indigenous women to be.”

“It has been nearly one year since we learned of the murders of Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, and the unidentified woman, Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe (Buffalo Woman). As we continue to attempt to heal together from this tragedy, our communities, and families are still facing re-traumatization by the previous Manitoba government’s lack of willingness to bring closure to this horrific tragedy.”

On October 4, 2023, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandagangaree announced that Canada will put $740,000 toward a further review of a possible search of the privately-owned Winnipeg landfill. This funding is intended to assist Long Plain First Nation to closely review search scenarios that had been laid out in the previously conducted feasibility study, which was leaked earlier this year.

“I am hopeful that under new leadership, Manitoba can finally make true progress on this matter and conduct full-scale and robust searches of these landfills, so that peace, closure, and justice may be brought to these women’s families and loved ones. I echo Premier Kinew’s sentiments in that it is of the utmost importance that these landfills be searched and that all possible efforts are exhausted to allow these women to be laid to rest with dignity and justice.”

“It is time that the Government of Canada take meaningful action to address the 231 Calls for Justice, as outlined in the 2019 Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. I am hopeful that this federal funding contribution, alongside the introduction of a new political leader for the province of Manitoba, indicates a renewed commitment to ensuring justice, support, and prioritization of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ in all regions across the country.”

Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare

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The Chiefs of Ontario support all First Nations in Ontario as they assert their sovereignty, jurisdiction and their chosen expression of nationhood. Follow Chiefs of Ontario on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @ChiefsOfOntario.

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