Prince George, B.C.- The Missing Women Inquiry will hold two days of submissions   for those who want standing or funding to be part of the inquiry. The hearings are set for  January 31st and February 1st and will be held in Vancouver.

 

Senior Commission Counsel, Art Vertlieb, QC, says 21 applications for standing have been received.

 

“The applicants, who represent a cross section of community organizations, will now be invited to make oral presentations before Commissioner Wally Oppal,” said Mr. Vertlieb. “This is an important step as the Commission continues its work.”

 

A list of the applicants has been posted on the Commission’s website – www.missingwomeninquiry.ca

 

The hearings will take place at 12^th floor, 1125 Howe Street from 10:00 a.m. ‑ 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. ‑ 4:00 p.m.

 

Based on written applications, Mr. Oppal has already granted standing to the Department of Justice (representing the RCMP), the City of Vancouver (representing the Vancouver Police Department) and Crown Counsel for the province of British Columbia.

 

Mr. Vertlieb said the purpose of the oral hearings is to allow interested parties to make further representations in support of their written applications to participate in the inquiry.

 

“While we want the inquiry to be as inclusive as possible, we need to ensure that participants are connected to the issues we will be examining in a way that will allow them to contribute to our work and help us address our terms of reference,” said Mr. Vertlieb.

 

The Commission was appointed by the British Columbia provincial government to inquire into the conduct of police investigations of women reported missing from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside between January 23, 1997 and February 5, 2002. The Commission’s terms of reference also allow it to inquire into the investigation of missing women and suspected multiple murders throughout the province.

 

In addition, the Commission will examine the decision by the B.C. Criminal Justice Branch on January 27, 1998 to stop legal proceedings against Robert William Pickton on charges of attempted murder, assault with a weapon, forcible confinement and aggravated assault.

The Commission  has already announced it will hold  two  forums in advance of the  actual  inquiry. 

 

A community engagement forum is set to take place in Prince George Friday, January 21. The forums have been called to hear from residents of B.C. who have been impacted by the tragedy of the missing and murdered women. The Prince George Forum will be held from 4:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. at the Prince George Civic Centre.  The Vancouver forum  is set for January 19th and  will be held from 4:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. at the Japanese Language School, 487 Alexander Street in Vancouver.