To the constant beat of drums and protesting eight storeys below, the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry got underway in Vancouver yesterday.
Commissioner Wally Oppal stressed that his inquiry will endeavour to find out how serial killer Robert Pickton was allowed to prey on the vulnerable women of the Downtown Eastside for as long as he did and, from the outset, zero in on potential police failures and prejudices.
Despite critics claiming the inquiry is a sham because of the government’s refusal to provide funding so community groups could be represented by lawyers, Oppal said missing and murdered women are part of a global epidemic and it’s one he will take seriously.
Whatever the faults of the inquiry, the families of Robert Pickton’s victims were glad it was finally under way.
“The families fought hard for this inquiry. We’ve been waiting for this day a long time,” said Ernie Crey, brother of victim Dawn Crey. “This inquiry is focusing on police and what was done, and what wasn’t done. That’s the inquiry we have now. At the end of the day, we need to see improvements to how policing is done in British Columbia.”
The families attending seemed equally upset and understanding that so many groups withdrew from the inquiry and weren’t on hand to support them.
“It would have helped the process had they been included,” said lawyer Cameron Ward, representing the families of 18 victims. “But I hope and am confident that if we all work hard, we can still make this commission an effective vehicle for getting answers to the questions that the family members have, and at getting to the truth of what happened in respect to these police investigations.”
Outside the courtroom, more than 150 people gathered to rally against the inquiry.
Their chants and drumming from the street were heard clearly in the courtroom as proceedings began.
“We’re rallying because we are very unhappy with the way this inquiry has been set up. The way it’s designed is flawed,” said Corinthia Kelly, whose Feb. 14 Women’s Memorial March Committee was one of 18 organizations that boycotted the inquiry. “There is no safety and opportunity for people with valuable information on what happened in the DTES to come forward.”
Inquiry counsel Art Vertlieb laid out the evidence Oppal is expected to hear — including police discrimination against the marginalized women, internal power struggles, senior officers’ refusal to accept women were being murdered, and a breakdown in communications between Vancouver police and RCMP.
At the end of the hearings, Oppal will be instructed to draft a report and make recommendations to ensure future police investigations do not repeat the same mistakes.
He may also make findings of misconduct by any of the officers or departments.
The inquiry continues.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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