Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This federal legislation that deals with an extremely sensitive predicament is indeed welcome. It is welcomed by this government, it is welcomed by the numerous women and children and advocate groups who, every day, have to deal with the unrelenting increase of crime and violence in our communities.
When the decision came down, there was a huge public outcry, particularly from women's groups who pointed out that what the decision did was to make women and old people feel at extreme risk because such a high percentage of sexual assaults that are committed in the north are accompanied by states of extreme drunkenness. The groups predicted that, contrary to the opinion of the Supreme Court which said that the defence would be rarely applicable, here in the north it would be relied upon routinely to justify assault and it would be almost legal encouragement for abuse.
This fear and prediction was substantiated, since the decision came down, by the court cases that have used the defence successfully across this country. Since the decision came down, it was felt by many of our constituents that time was of the essence. That it was important for the federal government to move as quickly as possible to provide legislation that would remove this legal defence. We should realize that, in having this legislation proposed -- and hopefully, it will pass in Parliament as quickly as possible -- someone will still use a particular section of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to argue that it impedes upon their rights as guaranteed to them under the Charter. But, the same Charter will also provide us arguments to suggest that such legislation is justified in a free and democratic society.
The important thing is the federal government has prepared a solution for Parliament to act upon and we must encourage them to pass this legislation as quickly as possible. The sexual assault incidence in the Northwest Territories is now at a staggering nine times the national average in Canada. We all know that many of these assaults are committed under conditions of extreme drunkenness. Here in the north, we have, unfortunately, a situation where we can provide a case for justifying the removal of that defence.
As the proposed amendment says, it is not an excuse under the law to get so drunk that you don't know what you're doing. If you get that drunk and commit an assault you must be, and have to be, accountable for what you have done. The best case for the removal of this defence is the impact, as I've said, that it is having on women, children and old people. They do not feel safe and this particular development in law has only escalated the degree to which they feel at risk. It is imperative that we all support the federal government to act as quickly as possible to put this legislation in place and to remove this defence.
I want to thank the Members for the encouragement to move on this issue, for the words that have been spoken in the months since the decision came down, and the will to which we've all recognized that we have to act on this particular issue. Thank you.
---Applause