Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I to would like to express my appreciation to Katherine and her team and all of the participants from across the north who helped develop this report. They did not only receive input from women. I sat in a public meeting in Inuvik and there were other men there, and I assume there were other men in the meetings across the north. I would like to express my personal support and pledge to contribute in whatever small way I can in this House, and wherever I am, in trying to resolve and deal with these issues.
A couple of weeks ago, with my colleague for Natilikmiot, I visited his home community of Repulse Bay and we held public meetings on health and social services issues. In my region there has been a rash of court cases regarding violence and sexual abuse. I find that there is a real cry for help in terms of counselling services for youth, the aged, the handicapped, family violence abusers and victims and for alcohol and drug abusers. Obviously, they are all inter-related. Our communities are small and our populations have to mix and inter-relate to survive in the type of environment in which we live and work.
Communities do need these support groups and we have to work very hard to develop programs and make sure that there is money or professional assistance to help train and develop counsellors. A point that has been mentioned several times is the use of aboriginal justice methods. These initiatives are being taken by the Gwich'in, in terms of forming a community justice society, based on what they are doing in the Yukon. There are also other models in existence. Also, the use of elders as counsellors came out loud and clear in Repulse Bay and Rankin Inlet. The elders are there and they are begging to be used yet something has happened between our generation and theirs. We are missing a link and not going to them as often as we should. I feel that with help to assist the elders in being more pro-active and assisting everybody else in being pro-active is the way to make that linkage. The report is a start. It is a summary of issues and concerns that were raised from people across the north. The only direction we can go is forward. We are all working to make life better, healthier and safer for all our residents. Thank you.