Zimmer responds to backlash from MMIW comment: “I’m deeply committed to the issue.”

After facing criticism from Connie Greyeyes, who was on CBC Daybreak North today, Conservative candidate and incumbent MP Bob Zimmer has clarified some of his comments from the debate in Fort St. John on Tuesday night.

On CBC Daybreak, Connie Greyeyes said she found it disheartening for politicians to make ‘off-handed comments’ to the media about missing and murdered Indigenous women.

He spoke to Energetic City today, saying that the comments were taken “grossly out of context.”

“I deeply care about missing and murdered aboriginal women… I can’t imagine a tragedy like that happening, and it is a tragedy. My point was, in my statement, was that we need to start acting on recommendations and fix the problem – because I don’t want to see anybody missing or murdered again. I say that from the deepest part of my heart, that’s where I’m at. It’s unfortunate it was taken that way, but it’s certainly not reflective of my views of it. Again, I’m deeply committed to the issue.”

Zimmer says that he was referencing an RCMP report on missing and murdered Indigenous women – which he says lists unemployment as a factor among many others.

NDP Candidate Kathi Dickie called for another inquiry, saying 1,200 Indigenous women missing and murdered is ‘shameful.’

Liberal Matt Shaw said it is a ‘bloody national emergency,’ which Barry Blackman with the Progressive Party of Canada pointed at poverty as a factor.