OTTAWA — NDP MP Don Davies says Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale has to use all "legitimate tools" at his disposal to ensure the RCMP investigates women's allegations of forced or coerced sterilizations.
Davies' request comes after the force said it conducted a preliminary review of its national database and found no records of specific complaints to pursue.
In a March letter to Davies, after he called for a criminal probe of coerced sterilizations, especially of Indigenous women, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki said the force will work with commanding officers in each province and territory to see if any complaints have been reported and will reach out to other Canadian police agencies as well.
In a letter to Goodale, Davies says he is disappointed by the response given that multiple, credible allegations of forced and coerced sterilizations have been made throughout Canada.
Last week, lawyer Alisa Lombard told the Senate human rights committee about an alleged coerced sterilization that happened in Moose Jaw, Sask. in December 2018.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority has announced it is investigating that specific complaint and more than 100 women have come forward with allegations to a Saskatchewan-based law firm.
