Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew apologizes to families of slain women for PC landfill election ads

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew formally apologized Thursday to the families of two First Nations women believed to have been victims of an alleged serial killer, saying they were "forced to become a political prop" during the recent provincial election campaign.

The apology came before a closed-door meeting at the legislative building on Thursday between the province and the families of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran.

"It was very relieving for the premier to apologize, it felt great actually ," said Donna Bartlett, the grandmother of Myran. "And I'm happy that he did apologize because it's been a long year, year-and-a-half, and to hear that from one of the premiers is absolutely amazing."

WATCH | Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew formally apoligizes to families of two First Nations women believed to have been victims of an alleged serial killer:

Police believe the two women were among four killed by the same man, and that Harris and Myran's remains were taken to Prairie Green landfill, north of Winnipeg, in May 2022. 

While there have been repeated calls to search that landfill for the women, and a feasibility study on a possible search earlier this year estimated it could be done, the previous Progressive Conservative provincial government under Heather Stefanson refused to support a search.

The party made that opposition an issue in the election campaign, including taking out ads and billboards saying the PCs would "stand firm" on that approach. Stefanson apologized for the ads following her party's Oct. 3 election defeat.

"No one who has their loved ones taken from them in the fashion that you have should ever be forced to become a political prop in an election campaign, and I am deeply sorry that you have been put through that," Kinew said Thursday.

"The government of Manitoba is not liable for what a political party does or what politicians do during an election campaign, but I — as the premier of Manitoba — I share the same moral space as my predecessor, the former premier of Manitoba."

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick said she "always remained optimistic" a day like Thursday would come. She added while it "was a really hard journey," she's done her crying and is moving forward with strength.  

"I couldn't imagine the feeling that the families were going through every single time that this was brought up," she said. "Every single time this was brought up during the election and they had to re-live it time and time again, so they gave us strength and for them to be able to move forward in the same manner."

"It gives us strength to work and be with them by their side," she added. 

Kinew said while the province cannot change the past, "we are here to tell you today that we are going to try. We are going to try to bring your loved ones home."

"The work is starting now … we just want to start over and reset the relationship."