Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to make some comments on family violence week. First, I would like to commend the government on drawing attention to the problems of family violence in the North. I would also like to extend my appreciation to all of the communities in my riding and throughout the North that have held activities during Family Violence Week in attempts to raise the profile on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I had great reservations earlier this week about standing up in this House and making a statement on family violence that was probably not going to have much effect. I only have to draw your attention to 1983. The Legislative Assembly of the day passed a motion that adopted a principle of zero tolerance against all people and endorsed the goal of eliminating family violence by the year 2000.

Well, we are now in the year 2000. Since that motion was passed, according to national crime statistics, the number of annual violent crimes in the Northwest Territories has increased from 4,826 to 5,063 between the years 1994 and 1998, with the biggest increases appearing in the last two years. This is a period during which other types of crimes such as property crime actually decreased in the North. It is also a period of time in which violent crime on the average dropped in the Canadian provinces.

However, while the violent crime rate in the Northwest Territories increases, the attention paid by the Government of the Northwest Territories to community health programs decreases. The main estimates for 2000-2001 for community health programs showed a decrease in the proposed annual expenditures of approximately $190,000 compared to the pervious year's estimates.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories must play a more effective role in preventing family violence. We all know that in the smaller communities we have limited or low paying jobs and poor housing conditions. That always results in low self-esteem and unhealthy living conditions. This places pressure on the families, which can eventually lead to violence, abuse or addictions.

Mr. Speaker, if we are serious in attempting to change the violent crime statistics in the North, we have to reduce dependency on social assistance. We have to build self-esteem. We have to generate employment in our communities. Mr. Speaker, we may have to examine our existing programs to see if they are achieving the goals we are setting in this House.

If the lack of financial resources is the problem, then it becomes essential that we measure, in a meaningful manner, the effectiveness of our existing programming expenditures and, if necessary, channel our resources into new programs.