Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier in regard to my Member's statement in regard to a child advocacy group. In my statement I referred to certain statistics in regard to the Northwest Territories where 644 cases of physical abuse of children have been reported since 1992; 887 cases of sexual abuse of children have been reported during the same period.
Mr. Speaker, the figures of both sexual and physical abuse is staggering at 1,533 reported cases in a five-year period. Also, since 1994, there has been 40 young people whom have taken their lives. It goes on in regard to what we hear in the news regarding child pornography. The court case in the north of what happened in institutions where a lot of young people went to school, especially in hostels in relation to Grollier Hall and other institutions, who are finally coming forward.
Mr. Speaker, my question to the Premier is, with these staggering statistics, do you think it is a critical matter that we deal with the whole question of finding an advocacy group to ensure that a child advocate will work to ensure the legal protection of children and to promote their welfare in society? Mr. Speaker, my question is, are these staggering statistics telling us that we should do something in regard to the protection of these children? Thank you.