The GNWT has released a report going over the feedback they recieved from the public on their new missing persons legislation.
The What We Heard report provides a high-level summary of the input received from the public engagement with NWT residents from June 16th to July 25th, 2022. The report has been compiled to provide an understanding of the areas of interest and concern raised by Northerners regarding missing persons legislation.
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls highlighted the need for legislation related to missing persons in Canada. The Government of the Northwest Territories is responding to the Calls for Justice through its Action Plan, Changing the Relationship. Action 75 outlines that the GNWT will develop missing persons legislation.
This legislation in the NWT is being crafted in comparison to other missing persons laws in other parts of Canada. Lawmakers are considering practices in policing, protections for victims, as well as access to information and the protection of privacy when working on this new legislation. NWT residents were given the chance to take part in an anonymous online survey to pitch idea for how this legislation could be crafted. A significant number of stakeholders and partners were contacted directly and invited to participate in the survey.
The engagement received 88 contributions from 81 participants. The feedback covered a wide range of topics. While many residents agreed that law enforcement should be able to access some private information to aid an investigation, privacy and protection of personal information was also a common concern. Most respondents agreed that law enforcement should limit the information publicly released about missing persons.
Many respondents expressed concerns about the possibility of overreach by law enforcement. Respondents wanted clear legislation, with many stating the wording of legislation commonly contains too much jargon or that some definitions are unclear. Some also called for more nuanced legislation, accounting for vulnerable groups or situations where a missing person is fleeing domestic abuse, or cannot or does not want to return home.
