Rona Ambrose will support inquiry into missing, murdered indigenous women

The Conservativeswill support a public inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women,says interim leader Rona Ambrose.

Her commentsmarka stunning reversal of the position taken by the Conservatives under Stephen Harper, who repeatedly rebuffed growing calls for a national inquiry, saying the government action on crime precluded theneed for further studies.

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"If the Liberal governmentwants to do an inquiry, and they think that's an important thing to do, I will support it," said Ambrose during an interview on CBC News Network's Power & Politics.

Ambrose said she met with Justice MinisterJodyWilson-Raybouldtoday.

"Our approach was always, let's not study it, let's take more action.If this governmentwants to do this study, we will support it.I said to her, I'll support you in any way," Ambrose told host Rosemary Barton.

"This is an absolutely non-partisan issue," she said.

The newlyelected leader was even more definitive in her support duringan interview set to air Saturday onCBC Radio's The House with Chris Hall.

Change in tone?

Ambrose's support for a national inquiry comes as the party looks to send a message of renewal following its demotion to Official Opposition status.

A record 10 indigenous MPswere elected to the House of Commons on Oct. 19, but none were elected under the Conservative Party banner. The Liberals elected eight, the NDP two.

The outcome marked a significant shift awayfrom the Conservatives, who once had foursitting indigenous MPs the most of any party.

Aboriginal activists who spent months mobilizing First Nations communities during the election campaign said that policy changes made by the Harper governmentfuelled a high voter turnout so high that some reserves ran out of ballots.

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Prime Minister JustinTrudeaureiterated his pledge to "immediately" launch a national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women, a day after he was elected to leada majority Liberal government.

He also vowed to implement all of the recommendations stemming from areport by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which included the launch of an inquiry.

Earlier this week, NDP Leader TomMulcairreaffirmed his party's commitment "to building a new era of nation-to-nation relationship" with First Nations, starting with a public inquiry.

Aboriginal women continue to beoverrepresentedamong Canada's missing and murdered women, according to areport made public by theRCMPin June.

While the Harper government resisted calling an inquiry, last September it tableda $25-million plan over five yearsto address violence against aboriginal women and girls.

The plan included funding tosupport aboriginal communities andprojects that wouldraise awareness toprevent violence against aboriginal women.

The Conservatives also promised anRCMPdatabaseon missing persons and unidentified remains, which theytouted as "concrete action."

However, the projectis stillincomplete and far over budget five years afterit was announced.

In 2008, Harperstood in the House of Commons where he deliveredahistoric speech apologizing for the Canadian government'streatment of indigenouschildren in residential schools.