Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have three tabled documents that address, in different ways, the problem of violence in our society. Today, we are fortunate to have a number of representatives who are joining us as witnesses to help us in our discussions. The first tabled document is called Building a Strategy for Dealing with Violence in the Northwest Territories. The second, is a proposed draft of a declaration for consideration by the Members of this House on family violence. The third is the response of the Department of Justice to The Justice House report, or the gender equality review.
The common element in these three documents is a recognition that violence is a very significant problem that deserves our serious attention. When we talk about violence in this context, we are not talking about random acts of violence, such as snipers shooting at strangers on freeways. For the most part, we are talking about violence that takes place in the home and of cases where victims and abusers not only know each other, but are in an intimate family relationship.
A study released recently by Statistics Canada provides us with hard figures to confirm what women's groups and others have been telling us for years, that violence against women and children is wide-spread across Canada, that women face the greatest risk of violence from men they know and that incidents of wife abuse, in many cases, are repetitive.
Family violence is a national disgrace. While Statistics Canada did not survey the Northwest Territories, we know what they would have found. Because incidence of reported violence is six times the national average, we have more than a disgrace in the Northwest Territories, we have a continuing tragedy.
People who have respect for themselves and each other, do not beat each other up. Violence is a sure sign of ill-health for individuals, families and communities. Abusers are unable to contribute to their full potential to society. Children who are raised with family violence cannot reasonably be expected to be healthy. At the same time, violence breeds more violence.
The Stats Canada study showed that children who witness violence against their mothers, are three times more likely to abuse their spouses themselves. Family violence destroys the foundation of the family and the community. It undermines any forward movement we make in other areas. All the land claims settlements and all the cultural, social and economic programs in the world will not guarantee a healthy society, as long as the violence continues. While there is a linkage between family violence, social decay and difficult economic times, it is not as simple as it might appear.
For example, the Stats Canada survey found that the incidence of wife abuse in Newfoundland was lower than anywhere else in Canada. The front line workers' survey, released by the Special Committee on Health and Social Services, shows that our community workers consider family violence and sexual abuse, along with substance abuse and unemployment, the biggest problems faced by communities.
The violence documents are a starting point for our discussions. It brings together elements of a strategy for dealing with violence, identifies actions being taken at present and areas where work could be done.
Elements of a strategy will include such things as the provision of services like shelters and counselling for victims and effective treatment programs for offenders, public education about violence, particularly targeting youth and children, as well as improving the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in dealing with family violence.
Some of the criminal justice elements are examined in greater detail in the Report of the Special Advisor on Gender Equality and the response of that report. The violence document also talks about the need to introduce greater efficiency and effectiveness into service delivery, through a greater degree of interagency cooperation.
Beyond that, the document looks at the pervasive attitude of tolerance for violence. There is a key element of the problem in the most significant area of the strategy. Over the last few years, there has been a gradual, but positive, change in attitudes towards violence. Family violence, once a forbidden subject, is starting to be admitted and talked about.
However, the denial continues. Denial about the existence of violence and about its seriousness. The excuses continue. Abusers make excuses for their actions. It is always someone else's fault. But there are no excuses for beating up on family members. The rest of us make up excuses for looking the other way while the abuse goes on, but there are no excuses for putting up with abuse. We all owe it to our loved ones, to our constituents, and to ourselves, to face up to this concern.
The elimination of family violence requires a wide range of actions but at the end of the day, any family violence requires changing our attitudes which allow it to continue. We must challenge our old attitudes, values and behaviours, today.
Violence exists because we allow it to happen. To stop violence, we have to acknowledge that it is happening and not tolerate it continuing.
Denial and tolerance are not the kind of problems that can be solved merely by throwing a lot of money at them, even if we had money to throw. We are talking about a special transformation that cannot be bought.
We are proposing action on this specific element of the strategy. We are proposing a demonstration of leadership and commitment in the form of a declaration of zero tolerance.
Embracing zero tolerance of violence toward women and children is the necessary starting point of any meaningful strategy. If this Legislature adopts the proposed declaration on family violence, we are committing ourselves to this principle.
Adopting a position of zero tolerance toward violence, although only a symbolic step at one level, is nevertheless a significant step because it will be a demonstration of our commitment as political leaders that things have to change. It is the first step in generating the same commitment by the rest of society, our constituents and our families. Part of the proposed declaration calls on all the leaders of northern society to make a similar declaration.
Northern leaders and the public must be invited and challenged to identify other actions to address the problem of family violence.
If elected representatives in the north want to make a concrete indication of the seriousness of their commitment, perhaps they will consider making the necessary changes to make it mandatory that anyone who is convicted of family violence while holding public office will be required to resign his or her seat.
The Assembly can provide leadership in these matters. Women's groups have been pressing for some time that we take a stand and adopt zero tolerance. Ultimately, however, the real difference will have to be made at the community level. Community leadership can make a big difference by making it clear that they will not tolerate violence in their communities, making it clear that no one has a right to abuse their family members.
I hope we all welcome this opportunity to get specific suggestions and comments from Members and encourage everyone to participate and make a contribution to the development of a strategy to deal with violence. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.