A committee of MLAs is to hold public meetings in Aklavik and Inuvik next month as part of their review of a proposed Missing Persons Act.
The NWT Assembly’s Standing Committee on Social Development invites members of the public to the Council of Chambers Building in Aklavik on Tuesday, April 9. Supper is at 5:30 p.m., followed by the meeting at 6 p.m.
The following day, April 10, the Committee will assemble at the Midnight Sun Complex in Inuvik. Again, supper is at 5:30 p.m., followed by the meeting at 6 p.m.
If anyone can’t attend in person, they can send a written submission to: committees@ntassembly.ca.
A plain language summary for the Bill can be retrieved here.
The disappearance of Frank Gruben last spring forced the spotlight to again shine on a potential new Missing Persons law, first discussed in 2020.
Thirty-year old Gruben was last seen in Fort Smith, on May 6, 2023. Gruben is of Gwich’in Inuvialuit heritage originally from Aklavik who had been attending college in Fort Smith.
RCMP haven’t completely ruled out foul play.
The draft legislation provides RCMP, with court approval, to access cell phone records that may indicate the device’s location, travel and accommodation records, as well as personal health and financial records.
The RCMP last year said the NWT G-Division has dozens of open missing-person files.
Without legislation in place, said Corporal Matt Halstead, “they can’t reliably access health records, financial information, or phone and internet records.”
The development of a NWT Missing Persons Act is also part of the GNWT’s response to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
