Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise on this first day of our Session to acknowledge the first Family Violence Awareness Week, October 30 to November 5, 2000, and speak in support of the activities and efforts of a number of organizations, including the Native Women's Association of the Northwest Territories, the Status of Women Council, family support centre Safe Home Network, the YWCA, the Alison McAteer House, and various government departments in raising awareness in dealing with this very significant issue in our society.
I compliment the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services for the resource package that she provided to communities in support of Family Violence Awareness Week.
The Assembly's vision document, Mr. Speaker, Towards a Better Tomorrow, states as one of our priorities safety, security and respect for all citizens with a focus on women, children, elders and persons with disabilities. In 1994, this Assembly passed a declaration on family violence, which made a commitment to zero tolerance and violence against women and children, and elimination of family violence by the year 2000. Mr. Speaker, clearly, we are failing.
Among some of the statistics that have been presented, I would add that in the years April of 1999 through March of 2000, some 296 women and 334 children used family violence shelters in the Northwest Territories. We need more positive results, Mr. Speaker.
Last month, the Caucus of this Assembly received presentations from Ms. Vi Beck, the president of the Status of Women Council, and Suzette Montreuil of Alternatives North, which focused on poverty, violence against women, and human rights. Ms. Beck noted that the Northwest Territories Family Violence program -- which funds five shelters and violence programs -- is extremely important but also extremely under-resourced.
The government must make a commitment, Mr. Speaker, to eliminate family violence and undertake to develop the strategies and provide resources for this. This government and we as MLAs need to demonstrate our leadership and commit to leadership in-action, so the public will know that there are those who support victims of violence and that there is help available. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause