Premiers must act on missing, murdered women: native women's association

WINNIPEG - Premiers have long lobbied the federal government to act on missing and murdered indigenous women.

Now the president of the Native Women's Association of Canada says it is time for them to back up their call for action with some money.

Dawn Lavell-Harvard says the roundtable on missing and murdered indigenous women in Winnipeg is a chance for provinces to commit to help vulnerable women.

She says Canada can't afford to wait for a national inquiry to wrap up in two years before action is taken.

Hundreds of family members, indigenous leaders and the country's top policy makers have gathered for the roundtable.

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger says he agrees that provinces shouldn't wait for the inquiry and they should work together now to do what they can.