The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls has hired its third executive director and new head of research.
The announcement comes amid money troubles and only eight months remaining in the commission’s mandate.
Chief Commissioner Marion Buller told APTN News earlier this month she needed a cash injection of “10 per cent” of her $53.9 million budget to complete the work.
Buller has also asked the government for a two-year extension of time and another $50 million to complete the work “properly.”
The minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Carolyn Bennett, has not yet made a decision on an extension, her office says.
The new hires are Jennifer Moore Rattray, who is leaving the Manitoba government, and Karine Duhamel, who was at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Buller said in a release the Indigenous professionals will begin their duties April 30 and remain in Winnipeg.
Rattray, who worked briefly as broadcaster at CBC Winnipeg before assuming a senior role at the University of Winnipeg, replaces Debbie Reid who left in January 2018 after a stormy tenure. She replaced Michèle Moreau who resigned last summer.
The inquiry has seen at least 20 people leave due to resignations and firings since January 2017.
Rattray takes over from Calvin Wong, who was acting as executive director in the interim.
The inquiry is also searching for a new director of communications. It posted the want ad on its website to replace Bernee Bolton, who has been on leave.
There’s no HR department for the inquiry so when the directors abuse and mistreat their employees there’s nowhere for them to turn. This needs a complete reboot and they can’t keep anyone currently in leadership.
There’s no HR department for the inquiry so when the directors abuse and mistreat their employees there’s nowhere for them to turn. This needs a complete reboot and they can’t keep anyone currently in leadership.