Authorities in Quebec are currently investigating a tragic incident in Inukjuak where a 41-year-old woman was fatally stabbed earlier this week. This unfortunate event marks the 14th femicide of the year in Quebec, with two similar cases reported in Montreal within the past 10 days.
According to Nancy Fournier, a spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), a man appeared at the Inukjuak police station on Monday morning, confessing to a crime he had committed. Subsequently, officers discovered a woman who had been stabbed at a residence in the community. Despite being rushed to a CLSC, she was pronounced dead.
The alleged perpetrator, identified as 45-year-old Charlie Palliser, has been arrested and appeared in court on a murder charge. He is currently in custody pending further legal proceedings as the investigation continues.
The victim, Elisabeth Qumak (Taqa), was publicly identified by Regroupement des maisons pour femmes victimes de violence conjugale on social media. The organization, in a Facebook post, urged political parties to take action during the ongoing election campaign, emphasizing the urgent need to address and prevent violence against women.
Québec Solidaire (QS) spokesperson Ruba Ghazal expressed deep concern over the tragic death of Qumak, pledging that if QS secures power in the next government, they will initiate a Ministry of Women and Gender Equality within the first 100 days. Ghazal condemned the alarming frequency of femicides and called for increased support and resources for women’s shelters, stressing the importance of providing a safe haven for women fleeing abusive situations.
