Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to speak in support of this motion not for the fact that I didn't believe our honourable Premier was sincere in his apology when he did make it. I accepted his apology, but I am in support of this motion simply for the fact that I want to let NWT residents know that MLAs here in this House strongly like to defend victims of sexual abuse. It can't be overstated the amount of pain and suffering that sexual abuse and sexual assault has caused here in the NWT over the last 100 years. It will probably be felt for the next 50 years or more. Even today, we still have six times the national average of sexually related assaults and abuse here in the NWT. I think it's of utmost importance that we stand united together here in the House and put forward a
motion that calls for immediate action against the support toward victims of sexual abuse and action against perpetrators of sexual abuse and sexual assault.
We believe here that actions speak louder than words. We can apologize until we are blue in the face, but what are we going to do in the long run and what are we going to do with government policy and how are we going to change people's attitudes towards dealing with sexual abuse? I am sure there are many instances of sexual abuse out there that are still unreported today, Mr. Speaker. I think if this government starts building on support systems and programs to bring those victims out of the closet, I guess, that they have been stuck in for many years, which causes dysfunctional families and dysfunctional lifestyles because they are carrying this burden for years and years. Even if it's not something as harsh as other people might have experienced, but still the longer you carry the small burden in the back of your mind, the bigger it gets as time goes on. People have to live with that and our social fabric suffers because of that and it starts breaking down. We get higher health costs, higher justice costs and the thing just creates a big snowball effect in communities, especially in the smaller communities where it's prevalent.
This is why I like to support this motion, because I support the victims and I have many victims in my constituency that have suffered through sexual assault, sexual abuse and continue to do so today because we just don't have the programs, the services available, the assistance that we could have to bring these people forward and give them the confidence to say that we are here to support them and we want to help them. Come and see us and we will do what we can to help you with the programs and services that we are able to provide. I think it's a start that we move forward with this motion because it calls for action and we need action. We can't just talk about it until we are all sick and tired of hearing it, because it will never cease. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause