Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Social Services. Earlier, I commented on the findings of the YWCA, which points out that only 2.4 per cent of male spousal abusers have had access to counselling, so that means about 97.6 per cent of male spousal abusers did not have any counselling at all. The YWCA also stressed that only 20 per cent of the women who are abused have direct access to safe shelter facilities. Can the Minister of Social Services explain to the House why his department continues to overlook the need to provide programs and services aimed at intervening the cycle of violence, which threatens the safety and well-being of so many families across the Northwest Territories? Thank you.
Debates of June 23rd, 1992
Topics
Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 727
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 727
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
I wonder if I could ask Members to take note. I think the question is presupposing something on the part of the government. Maybe I could ask the honourable Member to rephrase that question.
Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 727
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
I am just asking the Minister of Social Services to explain to the House what his department is doing to try to deal with the situation.
Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 727
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Mr. Whitford.
Return To Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 727
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the answer to that is in the efforts that the department is making to establish safe shelters in each of the regions and to respond to requests by the Society Against Family Violence, for instance, which has made for new initiatives that may be deemed necessary in that area. Encompassed in the safe homes will be provisions for counselling for both spouses, whichever one it may be, the children, and the abuser as well in some cases. We are endeavouring to meet the needs on a regional basis first, given the limited financial circumstances we see ourselves in.
Return To Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 727
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.
Supplementary To Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 727
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Social Services a supplementary question. I would like to know what the Minister is doing to ensure that there are adequate programs and services in place in the correctional facilities, and in community-based counselling, to make sure that the abusers receive appropriate counselling. Thank you.
Supplementary To Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 727
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Whitford.
Further Return To Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 727
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In situations where the person is in a facility and they themselves attempting to address a problem of spousal assault or violence, it is within the facility's mandate to provide, as much
as it can, counselling services within our corrections facilities. But the individuals themselves take on some responsibility to seek that help. We provide it wherever we can and wherever it is requested.
Further Return To Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 728
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.
Supplementary To Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 728
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is evident from the statistics provided by the YWCA that only 2.4 per cent of male spousal abusers have access to counselling, and it is obvious that the existing program is not providing necessary services to them. Can the Minister explain to the House how his programs are being provided? He says they are provided in the correctional facilities. I am wondering how they were provided. Thank you,
Supplementary To Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 728
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Whitford.
Further Return To Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 728
Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be glad to make arrangements for the YWCA to discuss this problem with our department, and see how we can review the report that they have, so that we can find some commonground and some solutions to it.
Further Return To Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Question O621-12(2): Provision Of Services For Abusers And Abused
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 728
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Oral questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.
Question O622-12(2): Arviat Health Committee Representative On Keewatin Regional Health Board
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 728
Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Health. I would like to find out if there has been an appointment made from the Arviat health committee to the Keewatin Regional Health Board to date.
Thank you.
Question O622-12(2): Arviat Health Committee Representative On Keewatin Regional Health Board
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 728
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Ms. Cournoyea.
Return To Question O622-12(2): Arviat Health Committee Representative On Keewatin Regional Health Board
Question O622-12(2): Arviat Health Committee Representative On Keewatin Regional Health Board
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 728
Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
No, Mr. Speaker.
Return To Question O622-12(2): Arviat Health Committee Representative On Keewatin Regional Health Board
Question O622-12(2): Arviat Health Committee Representative On Keewatin Regional Health Board
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 728
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Supplementary, Mr. Arngna'naaq.
Supplementary To Question O622-12(2): Arviat Health Committee Representative On Keewatin Regional Health Board
Question O622-12(2): Arviat Health Committee Representative On Keewatin Regional Health Board
Item 5: Oral Questions
June 22nd, 1992
Page 728
Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik
I would like to know why there has not been an appointment. This vacancy has been there since November or December of 1991.
Supplementary To Question O622-12(2): Arviat Health Committee Representative On Keewatin Regional Health Board
Question O622-12(2): Arviat Health Committee Representative On Keewatin Regional Health Board
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 728
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Ms. Cournoyea.
Further Return To Question O622-12(2): Arviat Health Committee Representative On Keewatin Regional Health Board
Question O622-12(2): Arviat Health Committee Representative On Keewatin Regional Health Board
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 728
Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
Mr. Speaker, the initial delay in appointing additional members to the health boards when they became vacant, is because we had a general directive put out that we would put on hold, for a period of time, appointing members to boards and agencies unless there was a requirement for a quorum, until we had established and looked at the boards while we were going through our budget exercise. Recently, we took another change in direction, which was to put forward the appointments that are from the communities. Because the Legislative Assembly has been in place, we have tried to keep the cabinet decision-making to a minimum, so these appointments are prepared and they are ready to go to cabinet. But at this point in time, because we are in session every morning, with caucus and other meetings, we just have not been dealing with it. As soon as the session is over and we can proceed with the paper work, they will be appointed. Thank you.
Further Return To Question O622-12(2): Arviat Health Committee Representative On Keewatin Regional Health Board
Question O622-12(2): Arviat Health Committee Representative On Keewatin Regional Health Board
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 728
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Oral questions. Mr. Lewis.
Question O623-12(2): Tabling Of Housing Needs Survey
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 728
Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have heard quite a bit today about social problems in the Northwest Territories. Some half a dozen years ago, there was a major survey on housing in the Northwest Territories. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for housing whether he is going to table that housing needs survey, which was done at great expense, so that Members can have a look at it soon?
Question O623-12(2): Tabling Of Housing Needs Survey
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 728
The Speaker Michael Ballantyne
Mr. Morin.
Return To Question O623-12(2): Tabling Of Housing Needs Survey
Question O623-12(2): Tabling Of Housing Needs Survey
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 728
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be happy to table the findings of the 1992 housing needs survey, in September.