Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree says the federal government is on the verge of presenting a plan in response to calls for a search of a Manitoba landfill for the remains of two First Nations women believed to have been murdered by an alleged serial killer.

“This is an issue that we’re in for the long haul,” Anandasangaree told CBC News on Friday.

“We will make a decision very shortly.”

Anandasangaree said Ottawa is willing to support a search but it needs Manitoba to get on board.

“We’re not having a mature conversation with the different levels of government on how to get to the right place,” he said.

“We do need the province of Manitoba to be at the table.”