Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's always difficult to follow Mr. Lafferty, but I would like today, if I could, to recognize, like a number of my colleagues have, Family Violence Awareness Week. I think it's important to do so. I would also like to recognize the work of the Status of Women Council and the Coalition Against Family Violence for getting us kicked off over the lunch hour today. It's important, I think, Mr. Speaker, for us to ensure that this remains the highest priority and we continue to give this our fullest attention in order to do what we can to combat family violence.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister today talked about the almost 700 --that's an amazing, staggering statistic, Mr. Speaker -- women and children who stayed in shelters in the past year. What he didn't mention was that many more were turned away because the shelters were full.
I think it's taken us some time, but legislatively we're now starting to make the shift. We're making a philosophical shift, we're recognizing that maybe it should be the abusers who are removed from the homes, Mr. Speaker, not the victims, not the women and children who have to uproot their lives and many times leave their community. This is important; it's an important shift for us to make and I'm happy to say that we're doing that.
I'd like to remind my colleagues that we, as a group, endorsed a proclamation in 2001 naming Family Violence Awareness Week an official week, and there are a couple of "whereas" clauses I'd like to remind my colleagues and remind the public of.
Mr. Speaker, whereas violence and other forms of abuse can cause serious problems for many individuals, families and communities;
And whereas all levels of government need to work together with community groups to increase awareness of violence and support healthy family and community life;
Whereas Family Violence Awareness Week is a time to talk honestly about how family violence harms our families and our communities;
And whereas community leaders, families and individuals wish to encourage those who are healing from violence and to speak out against violence.
Mr. Speaker, it made sense to us then, it makes sense to us now. We can't continue to sweep Family Violence Awareness Week under the carpet. It's important that we carry forward this momentum into the life of the next Assembly, and continue to ensure that this is our highest priority in dealing and coping with family violence. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause