FRANCAIS

December 06, 2000

Attorney General Gord Mackintosh today introduced the Helen Betty Osborne Memorial Foundation Act that would establish a scholarship fund for Aboriginal students who are pursuing post-secondary education.

"Helen Betty Osborne left her home community of Norway House to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher--a dream that was tragically cut short as a result of her violent death in 1971," said Mackintosh.

"The impact of Betty's murder was compounded further by the failure of the justice system. The Helen Betty Osborne Memorial Foundation Act will honour Betty's memory and help other Aboriginal women and men to pursue a college or university education."

Diane McGifford, minister responsible for the status of women, said it was important to take the added step of introducing the act on Dec. 6, a national day of remembrance of women who have been victims of violence.

"Today, we are honouring the memory of Canadian women and Manitoba women like Helen Betty Osborne," McGifford said. "The tragic circumstances surrounding Betty's murder will forever serve to remind us that we must remain vigilant in our continuing efforts to end violence against women."

Earlier this year, Mackintosh apologized to the Osborne family for the elements of the justice system that failed Betty. Mackintosh, Conservation Minister Oscar Lathlin and Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Eric Robinson also announced a $50,000 commitment to start up the scholarship fund.

In addition to establishing the foundation, the act would acknowledge that the 16-year lag between Osborne's murder and the laying of charges caused immense pain to the Osborne family. It would also reflect the findings of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry, which concluded that racism, sexism and indifference marked events surrounding the murder.

"We must ensure that the unfortunate lessons learned from this tragic episode in our history will not be repeated," Robinson said. "This act ensures that the memory of Betty will live on in others who also dream of helping their communities by furthering their post-secondary education."

The Helen Betty Osborne Foundation would be managed by a board of trustees, including a member of the Osborne family. The act would require the foundation to submit an annual report to the attorney general, who would present a copy to the legislature. The provincial auditor is to examine the foundation's books and records in preparation for the report.

The public can make tax-deductible donations to the Department of Justice, Finance and Administration Branch, 935-405 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3L6, adding to the province's initial $50,000 donation made through the Victims Assistance Fund. Income earned from the fund will provide for student bursaries with the first award expected for the 2001-02 school year.

"An act of government can never fully heal the pain the Osborne family must deal with every day," Mackintosh concluded. "What we can do is assist the family in bringing closure to this tragedy by remembering Betty's life, while continuing to work on the recommendations of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry to ensure justice for all Manitobans."

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