Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to Minister Allen last week as he made a statement on family violence legislation. I was impressed as he, early in his statement, clearly outlined the social benefits of such legislation. He correctly noted that such legislation gives people at risk of violence another legal tool they can use to protect themselves and their families. But then, Mr. Speaker, I was astounded to hear the Minister say: "We need to have public consultation on whether or not our residents want this legislation." This, Mr. Speaker, after groups ranging from seniors to members of the Social Agenda Working Group have said that we should have this type of legislation on the books.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister said we couldn't proceed with the legislation because people need to be trained to use it. Mr. Speaker, that would be a good approach, but it's not the one we take most often. Usually we pass legislation, and then set
up the administrative procedures to implement it. That's what we should do with family violence prevention legislation.
Mr. Speaker, let's put some teeth in our declaration of November 3, 2000. In that declaration, Members of this House unanimously said:
The Members of the 14th Legislative Assembly declare their intent to address the issue of family violence through their personal commitments to help stop family violence through their own actions in leadership and further support the collective commitment of the 14th Legislative Assembly to work in partnership with communities and their leaders to help lift the silence surrounding family violence and create caring supports for people experiencing violence.
Mr. Speaker, I checked with Alison MacAteer House, one of the women's shelters in the Northwest Territories. Last year, they had 404 admission inquiries; 153 women were turned away because they were full; 152 women were admitted. When you add in the number of kids who were admitted, that number comes up to 344. Mr. Speaker, it is time to act now. Later today, I will present a motion, seconded by my colleague for Hay River South directing the Minister of Justice to introduce a Family Violence Protection Act in June. Not just table it, as he has offered in his statement, but present it for first and second reading. Mr. Speaker, let's get serious about family violence protection. Thank you.
---Applause