Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to speak in support of this motion. I think that before I go on, I would like to just say that I am speaking... whatever I say for the next few minutes is in honour of all the victims out there in our territory who have been a victim of any type of family violence. I think that definition is very large. Mr. Speaker, I would also speak in appreciation of the women out there, in particular those who have worked really hard to bring this kind of motion in this House, namely the Council for the Status of Women. I know there are people who are working on this cause. As well, I would just like to thank the Minister and the Member for Frame Lake for pursuing this and bringing it again into the House.
Mr. Speaker, I have already stated in this House on this issue and I think that it is very important to know that there have not been that many motions that have been passed by this House in the last year. I think of a motion in support of the pipeline project. We passed a motion in support of the Human Rights Act and, most recently, I recall a motion to support the Public Service Commission. I must say that we should be proud that we are passing, or we are discussing and hopefully passing, a motion where we started with Human Rights Act and giving importance and urgency to the issue of family violence.
Mr. Speaker, I have stated earlier that I think it is very important and it should not be underestimated, the power of the elected leaders and leaders of our community to speak up and say that any type of family violence or violence against another human being is not acceptable and that it will not be tolerated and that the people with the power and the medium to speak out and say so.
Mr. Speaker, I do believe that the government has a role to play in making resources available to deal with some of the related issues pertaining to violence, such as addiction abuse, people who need counselling and all sorts of other areas that other Members have spoken of. I think there could also be an argument...not an argument, but another side of that is that it could be stated that some of those conditions are as a result of family violence in the house where children are growing up.
I believe that physical abuse of a person is sometimes not as serious as the mental abuse that takes place when one is subjected to violence. It goes right at the heart of one's sense of self and right at the heart of one's sense of integrity and self-esteem. The result is that the person is permanently damaged and less able to go out into the world and function as a whole being.
I am not sure if the intervention of the government is all there is. I think that as the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake has stated, the role of father and mother and the parents in the family is important. I think the role of political leaders and community leaders is important and we cannot say enough as a group that we will not tolerate this.
One message that I want to leave in honour of the victims is that I have been close to family violence and directly affected by that. What I want to tell to the people out there who are suffering from it especially is do not be a victim of that permanently. Although it is hard, you can overcome it. Whoever abused you in any way, mentally or physically, sexually, do not let that person be a second winner in making you permanently damaged so that you cannot be the best that you can be. If you are abused and your personal integrity is violated, it is true that it will be harder for you to become the best that you can to the fullest extent you can be but it is not impossible. Go out and seek help and know always that people in this Assembly and people who are there to speak for you and they will do everything they can to help you. Do not let that be the impediment permanently preventing you from becoming all that you can be because every person in this territory and in our communities has a place. You deserve not to be violated or abused.
Mr. Speaker, with that, I just want to say once again that I support this motion whole-heartedly and that I am proud to be part of the Assembly that is saying it and publicly declaring it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause