Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today is in regard to a child advocacy group in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, within our government we have many areas where people can go for help. The sad thing about this is the agencies, groups and the government that do support and promote programs are predominantly for adults. The Northwest Territories, despite the review of the Family Law Act, has not looked at the area of a child advocacy group. In other jurisdictions in Canada, six out of nine provinces have a child advocacy group. In regard to the many concerns and
issues that affect children in the Northwest Territories, I believe that a predominant number of our population are the youth. Yet, Mr. Speaker, we have made decisions in this House that affect children. The cuts to programs and services, that affects children and the decisions that we make will affect the future generation of the people we represent.
The issues that affect children today, such as alcoholism, drug abuse are important because children are possibly the most valuable resource and asset that we have because the future of the Northwest Territories is our children. Yet, today, we talk about the Family Law Act with no consideration of the family law bill. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister questions on this particular matter. Thank you.