Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, later today I will be tabling two proposed acts: the Child and Family Services Act and the Adoption Act. The draft legislation is based on recommendations made by Members of the family law review committee. This group recommended substantial changes to the Child Welfare Act, many of which are incorporated into the proposed acts.
Our current Child Welfare Act was drafted in the 1960s. It is outdated and no longer meets our needs. It is time to bring forward legislation that supports and strengthens family ties and enables communities to become more involved in child and family service matters. Tabling these documents now will enable further dialogue about family law and child welfare issues that are of major concern to all residents of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, it is anticipated that this next phase of the consultation process will involve seeking ideas from young people, parents, helping agencies, aboriginal groups, women's groups and other interested persons. Finding a balance between the roles and responsibilities of government and of parents in raising and protecting children, especially children at risk, is a difficult task. There are bound to be some parts of these proposed acts that are controversial and it will not be possible for everybody to agree. The important thing, however, is to start exploring these issues and to involve the public in the discussion.
These legislative initiatives will be dealt with by the Members of the next Legislative Assembly. Meanwhile, public consultation that is needed to move towards a family-based, service-oriented child welfare system will continue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause