Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to provide an update to Members on the
implementation of the Protection Against Family Violence Act.
It's appropriate that we are joining people across the NWT in marking this week as Family Violence Awareness Week. It is a serious problem in all of our communities, in all types of families.
This law has been in force for just over six months. It allows victims of family violence to get protection quickly and easily over the phone. People can get an emergency protection order within a few hours from any community in the Northwest Territories, or they can ask the court for a protection order, which gives longer-lasting protection.
Although some people are applying for orders in person at their local RCMP station, most people are using the toll-free number. We've taken calls from women, men and elders, but we are starting to see a clear pattern. The typical caller is female, with several children. Her partner has been abusing her for a long time, and the violence has been getting worse. The women who call are desperate for help, and they report many different forms of family violence. An emergency protection order is usually not the only thing these families need to stay safe, Mr. Speaker. Trained family violence counsellors and RCMP officers work with them to make safety plans and to talk about things they can do when they think they're in danger.
Mr. Speaker, last week we had our 50th application, and the numbers are still increasing. This usage is the highest per capita in the country. I must say that we were surprised to get this response, but it is a clear indication that family violence is an ongoing problem in the Territories. There have been applications from 14 different communities, and the orders have ranged in length from two to 90 days.
Mr. Speaker, although the new law gives people a new choice, an emergency protection order isn't right for everyone. If a crime has been committed, some people will go through the criminal court process. Shelters provide emergency housing for people who need a safe place to live. Other people will get help from local victim services groups or their social workers, and some people will want to use a combination of the things I've just mentioned, Mr. Speaker.
We all know that family violence is a problem that will take a cooperative approach. To implement this new law, the department has been working very closely with the RCMP and the YWCA. On the broader issue, we continue to work with our partners on the family violence action plan. Department staff have been travelling to communities with the Coalition Against Family Violence's demonstration projects. We're talking to people about what's happening in their communities, giving them information and helping them develop a plan to respond to family violence, and we're learning how we can make our own laws and policies more effective for people who are dealing with violence every day.
Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling a status report on the implementation of the Protection Against Family Violence Act later this session. Thank you.
---Applause