Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, once the Minister has familiarized herself with this legislation, will she commit to looking at bringing forward legislation that provides for clear, enforceable intervention orders for more effective responses to family violence situations by police or other local authorities?
Debates of March 6th, 2001
This is page numbers 1543 - 1596 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 3rd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.
Topics
Supplementary To Question 459-14(3): Zero Tolerance For Family Violence Strategy
Question 459-14(3): Zero Tolerance For Family Violence Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1558
Supplementary To Question 459-14(3): Zero Tolerance For Family Violence Strategy
Question 459-14(3): Zero Tolerance For Family Violence Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1558
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Further Return To Question 459-14(3): Zero Tolerance For Family Violence Strategy
Question 459-14(3): Zero Tolerance For Family Violence Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1558
Jane Groenewegen Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, as I indicated in the previous answer, Mr. Speaker, if it appears there is good and proven legislation that helps to address the issues of family violence that exists in other jurisdictions, and it would appear that they may have advanced efforts in these areas and it has benefit and merit and application in our circumstances, we would be willing and prepared to look at such legislation in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 459-14(3): Zero Tolerance For Family Violence Strategy
Question 459-14(3): Zero Tolerance For Family Violence Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1558
Supplementary To Question 459-14(3): Zero Tolerance For Family Violence Strategy
Question 459-14(3): Zero Tolerance For Family Violence Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1558
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All good answers by the Minister. Will the Minister now agree to be the champion for this cause, not to take it on by herself, but to lead, to rally people of the North around to make sure that we all get together towards zero tolerance for violence in the Northwest Territories?
Supplementary To Question 459-14(3): Zero Tolerance For Family Violence Strategy
Question 459-14(3): Zero Tolerance For Family Violence Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1558
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Further Return To Question 459-14(3): Zero Tolerance For Family Violence Strategy
Question 459-14(3): Zero Tolerance For Family Violence Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1558
Jane Groenewegen Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Member articulating the challenge so definitively and yes, Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to lead the efforts on this behalf. I have indicated in my Minister's statement today that I am very interested in seeking input from other parties, not the least of which would be input from people such as our representatives on our Council of Grandmothers, and certainly from any other stakeholders and NGOs who work in this area in the front line. I agree with the Member that it does take someone to take a lead role in this and I am prepared to do that. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 459-14(3): Zero Tolerance For Family Violence Strategy
Question 459-14(3): Zero Tolerance For Family Violence Strategy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1559
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Madam Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.
Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Item 6: Oral Questions
March 5th, 2001
Page 1559
Paul Delorey Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to address my question to the Minister of Justice, in light of a couple of terrible tragedies that have hit the news waves in the last day. For instance, in California a 15-year-old kid opened fire on his classmates in a school, killing two and injuring another 13. I was wondering, Mr. Speaker, if the Minister responsible for Justice is going to take any steps in working with the Minister of Education to put word out into the schools of this terrible tragedy and the impact this has on kids and their families when something like this happens, knowing full well that we are not immune to something like that. Something could happen like that at any time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1559
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.
Return To Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1559
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the honourable Member is asking a very serious question. As we all know, this type of incident has happened before in other parts of this country as well as in the United States. With the modern communication through television and the news, it is brought right into everybody's living room and everybody is aware of these kind of situations. In the Northwest Territories, we have access to the news as well, so everybody is fairly aware of that. It is something that has happened that we have to be aware of.
It is the RCMP who do the policing work for us in the Northwest Territories. They have different programs where they go to the communities and work very closely with the communities. In talking to some of the Members, I am aware that some of them are doing really close work with the communities and have access to the younger children and are doing activities with the kids in the communities.
I think there is a recognition that whatever happens outside of the Northwest Territories has effects on us through the media. There are existing programs now that are being utilized to try to bring awareness to the communities. I think everybody in the communities is very aware of it and community leadership is aware of a lot of the problems that come from social pressures that cause things to happen. We all have to work together, not only the Minister of Education and I, but we have to work with people at the community level as well as the departmental level to bring awareness to communities. Thank you.
Return To Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1559
Supplementary To Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1559
Paul Delorey Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the bits of information that has come out about this already is the fact that this 15-year-old kid had been bragging about doing this for three days. He talked the whole weekend about going to school with a gun and shooting. A lot of kids heard him say that, but nobody took him seriously or brought this to the attention of any officials or school officials.
Would the Minister commit to putting the word out to the kids and try to educate the kids that if somebody is talking in that way, somebody should be paying attention and somebody should be addressing it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1559
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1559
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will certainly do what the honourable Member is saying. I think we have to be cognizant of the information that is out there and the access is easily accessible to our younger kids. They may have good ideas and so forth. I think it is important that we bring that notice out to everybody. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1559
Supplementary To Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1559
Paul Delorey Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The other incident I was referring to was the news that came out of Cape Dorset, where an RCMP officer was shot to death in the line of duty. I was wondering if the Minister or this government has put a message out? I would certainly like to relay my condolences to both sides, the accused and the victims. I was wondering if this government has taken steps to relay their condolences to both the victims and the accused? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1559
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Delorey. I just want to remind Members that a question should only have one topic. I realize this is a very serious subject, but there are two different items there. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1559
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, we will do that as a government. I was speaking to the Premier and he says that is what we will be doing as a government. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Question 460-14(3): Dealing With Tragic Incidents In Schools
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1559
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.
Question 461-14(3): Non-insured Health Benefits
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1559
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier dealing with the non-insured health benefits. As I stated in my opening remarks, the Northwest Territories is a haven for developers. The Canadian government, the federal government, being the biggest benefactor of all. They are sucking out oil and gas, sucking out diamonds and now they want to come and pull our teeth. Pretty soon we will not have any eyeglasses under the non-insured health benefits as well. Pretty soon we will not see well enough to grab our dentures from our bedside table, Mr. Speaker. When will this government step in and stop the flow of Government of Canada taking back non-insured health benefits from the people of the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 461-14(3): Non-insured Health Benefits
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1560
Question 461-14(3): Non-insured Health Benefits
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1560
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Mr. Speaker, the question will be taken by the Minister of Health and Social Services. Thank you.
Question 461-14(3): Non-insured Health Benefits
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1560
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you. The question has been directed to the Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Return To Question 461-14(3): Non-insured Health Benefits
Question 461-14(3): Non-insured Health Benefits
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1560
Jane Groenewegen Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the erosion of services provided under the non-insured health benefits, the change in the programming, the policy amendments that get made by the federal government which would, at times, appear to undermine the quality of services, are something which my department has been seeking to address.
The plans that we had to consider in turning the administration of these services back over to the federal government because of their lack of support for things like administration have been resolved. I will be going to my Cabinet colleagues for permission to rescind our previous direction of returning this NIHB services to the federal government. We have come up with what we consider to be a satisfactory level of support from the federal government to continue to do this. However, we must remain vigilant, as Mr. Nitah indicates, to ensure that there is no decrease in the services that are covered in this plan. Thank you.