Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Many of the presenters were either concerned about or have themselves been subjected to elder abuse. In small communities, they could not see how the SCAN legislation would help an elder being taken advantage of by a relative or being kept awake and harassed by neighbours partying and drinking all night, without there being repercussions for the elder who reported the activity.

Many elders who came to speak to us are looking for solutions from the government to address the behaviour of those who are abusing substances and abusing them. However, they expect those resources to be based in their communities where immediate actions can be taken as events happen. Elders do not expect that they should need to call a 1-800 telephone number in Yellowknife, and have to wait for a SCAN investigator to travel to their community, conduct an investigation and make application to the Supreme Court in Yellowknife before they receive any assistance. They do not see how SCAN investigators can possibly address their concerns and have doubts about how effective a program like SCAN could be in responding to their important concerns.