Sister of missing Aboriginal woman from Timmins wants inquiry to take its time

The sister of a missing Aboriginal woman from Timmins is hoping the government doesn't rush to set up its public inquiry.

The federal government plans to spend the next two months meeting with the families of missing and murdered women, as well as others, to decide how to frame the inquiry.

Vanessa Brosseau of Timmins is hoping they will call her.

Her younger sister, Pamela Holopainen, disappeared after a house party in Timmins in 2003.

"You need to take the time and sit and actually listen with what the families have been through and feel what the families are feeling — and maybe then you could move forward," said Brousseau.

Holopainen, whose mother is Inuit, grew up in South Porcupine and was 22 when she disappeared. She left behind two young sons.

"I know she's not alive," said Brousseau. "Her kids need to know what happened and where she is. I don't want them to ever think that she just left them."

Brousseau said it took weeks before police contacted her about her sister's disappearance and before they began an extensive search of the Timmins area, including a local garbage dump.

"I don't think I would have to carry this or her poor children have to go through this, if the police had been on it right away," she said.