Quebec Conservative candidate backtracks on inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women

AConservative candidate in Quebec has clarified his positionafterseemingto contradictleader Stephen Harper in suggesting the party would launch an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal if re-elected.

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I believe, upon our return to power, there is going to be a commission of inquiry that is going to happen.- Conservative candidateYvonBoudreau

YvonBoudreau, running in the riding ofManicouagan,was asked about the idea during a debate in ForestvilleTuesday night.

"There is an opening and I believe, upon our return to power, there is going to be a commission of inquiry that is going to happen," Boudreau said.

The comment isat odds with those made byConservative Leader Stephen Harper.

In a statement released Wednesday, the party saidBoudreaumisspoke, and that he was actually making reference toRCMPinvestigationsand not to an official inquiry.

'Not really on our radar'

The Conservative governmentrejected repeated calls to call a national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women.

In an interview with CBC's PeterMansbridgelast December, Harper said the idea was"not really on our radar."

"Our ministers will continue to dialoguewith those who are concerned about this," Harper told Mansbridgeat the time.

In an interview with Maclean's magazine last month, Harper said the government had already done 40 studies onmissing and murdered aboriginal women and that the issue had been "studied to death."

He said that's why his government was putting resources into prevention and investigation and into enforcement.

NDP leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau have both promised to launch inquiries into missing and murdered aboriginal women if elected.