Definitions
1 In this order:
“commission” means the commission of inquiry established under section 2 of this order;
“Criminal Justice Branch” means the Criminal Justice Branch of the Ministry of the Attorney General;
“missing women investigations” means the investigations conducted between January 23, 1997 and February 5, 2002, by police forces in British Columbia respecting women reported missing from the Downtown Eastside of the city of Vancouver.
Establishment of commission
2 (1) A hearing and study commission, called the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, is established under section 2 of the Public Inquiry Act.
(2) Wally Oppal, QC, is the sole commissioner of the commission established under subsection (1).
Purpose of the commission
3 The purpose of the commission is to inquire into and report on the conduct of the missing women investigations.
Terms of reference
4 The terms of reference of the inquiry to be conducted by the commission are as follows:
(a) to conduct hearings, in or near the City of Vancouver, to inquire into and make findings of fact respecting the conduct of the missing women investigations;
(b) consistent with the British Columbia (Attorney General) v. Davies, 2009 BCCA 337, to inquire into and make findings of fact respecting the decision of the Criminal Justice Branch on January 27, 1998, to enter a stay of proceedings on charges against Robert William Pickton of attempted murder, assault with a weapon, forcible confinement and aggravated assault;
(c) to recommend changes considered necessary respecting the initiation and conduct of investigations in British Columbia of missing women and suspected multiple homicides;
(d) to recommend changes considered necessary respecting homicide investigations in British Columbia by more than one investigating organization, including the co-ordination of those investigations;
(e) to submit a final report to the Attorney General or before December 31, 2011.
*The Commission was granted an extension and the revised date for final report submission to the Attorney General is on or before November 30, 2012
Copyright © Missing Women Commission of Inquiry 2013