A new national DNA databank for missing people has the potential to bring closure to some families of missing women along the Highway of Tears, but advocates would like to see the federal government do more to prevent disappearances.
In Tuesday's federal budget, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced the government is committing $8.1 million to create an index that will try to match the DNA from missing people to samples in the national DNA databank.
"I think a database is needed for many missing people, not only aboriginal missing people across the country," Carrier Sekani Tribal Council chief Terry Teegee said. "I think it's a good thing but whether it solves it or brings closures to families has yet to be seen."
Teegee said the tracking program is long overdue and has been called for by family members of missing people from coast to coast for years.
National Revenue Minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay is hopeful the missing person's DNA index could help track those responsible for the disappearance of people across the country and provide answers for loved ones.
"It's important not just in the aboriginal communities, but also for all of us," she said.
While the new program could help the families of those already missing find out more about what happened to those missing, Teegee and Skeena-Bulkey Valley NDP MP Nathan Cullen said more also needs to be done to prevent people from going missing at all.
Teegee said more money for safe transportation could help and Cullen emphasized the need for for a national inquiry into missing women.
"That's what the families want and that's what we need," Cullen said. "It's to prevent the people from going missing in the first place, not having a DNA databank once you discover a body off the highway."
Now that the databank is available, Teegee said for it to be effective it must have as wide a range as possible, including crossing international borders.
"I hope they also share this information with international organizations," he said. "If one of our people in this country goes to a different country or is kidnapped to a different country, I hope there is a bigger plan there to share information."
