Lead legal counsel announced for inquiry into missing, murdered indigenous women
OTTAWA – Susan Vella, a lawyer with extensive experience in representing victims of sexual trauma has been named lead counsel for the inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women.
An award-winning Toronto lawyer, she will be responsible for building the inquiry’s legal team.
Formal hearings are expected to begin in spring 2017.
Vella has worked on behalf of a number of First Nation survivors of sexual abuse and the residential schools system.
Prevalent sexual abuse in indigenous communities — an issue documented in a months-long investigation by The Canadian Press — is expected to be a central theme during the inquiry process
The Liberal government has earmarked $53.8 million over two years for the inquiry.
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