Mr. Zimmer, like many of the people who attended last Tuesday's debate, I found your comments about the missing and murdered First Nations women along the Highway of Tears offensive and disturbing.
I quote: "Ultimately when people have a job they're not in despair and they can stay on reserve and that's where we want them to be."
What do you know of despair? What do you know of the struggles of the lives of these girls and women? Do you know anything about any one of them beyond statistics?
These were human beings, Mr. Zimmer.
Mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, cousins, friends. Every one of them loved by someone, somewhere.
You would do well to remember that.
I knew Leah Germaine. I called her friend. I know her story. I know how she came to be in the untenable situation she was in, and I know it was not by choice.
I know she was working extremely hard to get out of the lifestyle that had been forced upon her. I, and several others, had dinner with her the night she was murdered, and she was overflowing with good news of the positive changes she was making.
I know she left that dinner with joy in her heart and a bright smile on her face, a wealth of new possibilities before her.
Possibilities that were brutally stolen from her just hours later by a coward who believes First Nations women are 'not high on the radar' (ie: disposable).
She was fifteen years old. A child.
You dare to suggest that my 15-year-old friend was left to die in the snow behind Haldi Road school in December of 1994 because she didn't have a job?
That - for all intents and purposes - because she wasn't gainfully employed, she was asking for it?
I am deeply embarrassed to have my city associated with the likes of you in our nation's Parliament.
I sincerely hope that situation comes to an end on Oct. 19, and you should have no doubt that I will be there to help make that happen.
Toya Upshaw-Fader
Prince George
