Thank you, Mr. Speaker. WHEREAS sexual abuse in institutions and by employees who held positions of trust in relation to aboriginal people has had devastating ramifications in the North;
AND WHEREAS Premier Handley's remarks to the media on the civil case involving former teacher Edward Horne, first reported by the Canadian Press on September 22, 2006, have caused a great deal of distress and disappointment to sexual abuse survivors across the North;
AND WHEREAS sexual abuse survivors who come forward with their stories are often faced with families and communities who are unprepared to accept or believe that such horrific acts have been committed in their midst, and thereby deny survivors the support they desperately need and deserve;
AND WHEREAS this government has an opportunity and a moral obligation to stand with and support survivors of sexual abuse, many of whom have nowhere else to turn, and no one else to speak on their behalf;
AND WHEREAS this government cannot be idle on this issue, but must instead demonstrate leadership and commitment through concrete measures to assist survivors of sexual abuse;
AND WHEREAS northerners must respect and have faith in this government's leadership on the issue of sexual abuse, and their ability to have this respect and faith has been shaken as a result of Premier Handley's remarks;
AND WHEREAS Premier Handley's apology for his remarks must be reinforced by concrete measures;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that this Legislative Assembly censures the Premier for his comments to the media on the civil case currently before the courts related to former teacher Edward Horne;
AND FURTHER, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends that the government bring forward a policy on how it will handle allegations of sexual abuse, which is consistent with zero tolerance toward violence, which shows support to survivors;
AND FURTHERMORE, that the government identify gaps in assistance and services for survivors of sexual abuse, and bring forward proposals to address these gaps;
AND FURTHERMORE, that the government, within the life of this Assembly, develop a mandatory sexual abuse survivor assistance training program for front-line workers.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause