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Lack of action on Highway of Tears has MLA seeing red

North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice is seeing red after a final update report on the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry.
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The lack of action on affordable transportation has North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice seeing red.

North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice is seeing red after a final update report on the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, released on Dec. 6, lacked any update or information about affordable public transportation along the Highway of Tears.

"It's been two years since the Missing Women's Commission said offering safe, accessible transportation along the Highway of Tears was an urgent recommendation which should be implemented immediately. Now the Minister of Justice is saying that this, and other unfinished recommendations, simply aren't important," said Rice.

"Women in these communities are often forced to make difficult choices about getting to and from regional centres like Terrace and Prince Rupert, choices that can put them at risk, and instead of giving those women access to safe affordable transportation, the B.C. Liberals put out a website that lists limousines as a transportation option."

However, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton noted that this report is not the end of all work on the file.

"While today's report provides our final, official update on two years of progress since Commissioner Oppal released his report, I want to be clear that our action on his recommendations will continue," she said.

"I know Transportation Minister Todd Stone and his ministry are continuing to build on the extensive meetings they've had with First Nations and community leaders around transportation challenges along the Highway 16 corridor."