I am pleased to see that the governments of this country have been able to collaborate with Indigenous leaders and the families of Missing and Murdered Women and Girls in Canada to establish a National Inquiry, one of the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

I congratulate the Native Women's Association of Canada for its perseverance in bringing this about.

I praise and honour the members of the victims’ families for their resilience and determination.

I express my thanks to Judge Marion Buller and the other Commissioners for accepting the responsibility for this immense undertaking.

Criticism of the creation of such inquiries is almost inevitable in this climate. However, whatever one thinks of the breadth and range of the terms of reference and the background and experience of the Commissioners, I am certain that the Commission will be revealing to all of Canada, and the world.

We will learn of things that will be hard to believe, and we will be challenged to do what we cannot now imagine.

In that way it will reflect the history of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and institutions. It will be an important opportunity for reconciliation to move forward in a significant way.

Note to readers: The Honourable Murray Sinclair retired from the Senate of Canada in January 2021. Learn more about his work in Parliament.