The federal government is being asked to begin a national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women. Niki Ashton, Churchill MP and NDP Critic for the Status of Women, plans to send an open letter to the Harper government with the help of Manitoba native leaders. Ashton proposed the inquiry should address both prevention and justice, and provide reasons why Aboriginal women are at risk in Canadian society. Acknowledging inquiries have been held in the past, Ashton noted this one is different from the others because it is on a national level. \"When we look at what is a national epidemic, we haven’t seen a national response,\" she said