Independent Special Interlocutor, Kimberly R. Murray, Seeks to Intervene to Protect Missing Children
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Posted by Shelby Percival
- Posted in BlogsNews
The Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools, Kimberly R. Murray (“Special Interlocutor Murray”), has filed an application with the Quebec Superior Court seeking to intervene in the proceedings of Kahentinetha et al. v Société Québécoise des Infrastructures et al. For copy of the Declaration of Voluntary Intervention by the Independent Special Interlocutor see here.
One of the central issues in this case is whether current redevelopment plans for the site of the Royal Victoria Hospital should be suspended pending a full and proper investigation of the grounds. The Plaintiffs in this case, the Mohawk Mothers, claim that there are potentially unmarked burials of Indigenous children located on the grounds in question because Indigenous children from Indian Residential Schools were taken to the hospital for medical experiments. The Defendants in the proceedings are McGill University, Royal Victoria Hospital and McGill University Health Centre, the Société Québécoise des Infrastructures, the City of Montréal, Justice Québec, and Justice Canada.
Special Interlocutor Murray’s mandate includes the responsibility to review the current processes used to identify, recover, and protect unmarked burial sites across Canada, including providing assistance on additional measures that may be necessary going forward to preserve these unmarked sites.
Special Interlocutor Murray has extensive experience in respect of Indian Residential Schools and seeks to provide the Court with information on the link between hospitals, universities, and Indian Residential Schools, as well as information on respectful and culturally appropriate protocols.
For more information, please see the media release from the Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools found here.
Related Documents:
Declaration of Voluntary Intervention – Independent Special Interlocutor Murray – Aug. 31, 2022
Media Coverage of the Case:
“Mohawk Mothers suing feds, McGill, Montreal to stop construction of hospital” – APTN News, April 25, 2022
About the Independent Special Interlocutor:
- Kimberly R. Murray was appointed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada as the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools in June 2022.
- The Special Interlocutor has a two-year mandate and will deliver an interim report in June 2023, and a final report in June 2024.
- For more information, see here: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/interlocutor-interlocuteur/mtr-mcr.html
