Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in March I asked the Minister of Health and Social Services if she would make herself aware of family violence legislation in other jurisdictions. She agreed that she would and would consider bringing forward similar legislation if it proved worthwhile in those other jurisdictions.

Mr. Speaker, Yukon, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island and Alberta have such legislation, and others like Ontario are moving to bring it in. Over the past four or five months I hope that the Minister has looked at this legislation in these jurisdictions and will soon tell the House that she is planning to bring similar legislation forward here.

Mr. Speaker, what is the big difference between what we currently have and what you will find in places like Alberta, where they have the Protection Against Family Violence Act? I think the biggest difference is that these acts tend to focus on protection rather than on punishment. I am speaking specifically about Alberta. The purpose of the act there is to provide effective and accessible protection for victims of family violence, while at the same time responding to concerns raised about due process and the need to guard against frivolous or vexatious applications.

A few features of this legislation in Alberta provide police officers with the option of a civil response to family violence calls rather than a criminal code response. The Alberta legislation provides three types of protection under the act -- emergency protection orders, Queen's Bench protection orders and warrants permitting entry. Mr. Speaker, police officers in Alberta can request by phone emergency protection orders from presiding Justices of the Peace on a 24-hour basis.

This Alberta legislation is seen as effective because it allows for more options for police officers and an immediate response to family violence. Victims often do not want to go to court but want out of the situation, so the emergency protection order is perceived as a very useful tool because it does not require a criminal charge. Mr. Speaker, the EPOs can also provide for the arrest of the perpetrator if the orders are breeched, and this is what provides the effective force in a situation.

Again, I hope the Minister will agree that she is going to move forward with the lead that we have seen in these other jurisdictions like Alberta and I will be asking her later today during question period if we can expect to see such legislation soon. Thank you.

-- Applause