Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to join my colleagues in speaking out today against elder abuse. I was disgusted and sickened by a story on the CTV two days ago where a man and his wife had left his elderly mother in an unheated garage for an extended period of time. Mr. Speaker, this action was reprehensible and highlights the fact that elder abuse is happening every day, not only in communities in our Territory but across this country. In this case, laws were broken, but the abuse can take many forms, Mr. Speaker, such as financial abuse, people stealing money, belongings, forging cheques or tricking an elderly person into giving away their money; neglect, when a caregiver does not provide adequate food, medicine and proper living conditions; physical abuse, rough treatment through slapping, hitting, punching or pushing and threatening to hurt an elder; sexual abuse, when elders are touched sexually without their consent; and perhaps the most common form, Mr. Speaker, emotional abuse, which includes threatening, swearing, keeping elders from friends and community members, and guilt trips.
The only way to stop the abuse from taking place is to report it. Elders have every right to feel safe in their homes and in their communities. They also have every right to manage their own money and belongings. If you know of any of this abuse taking place, you can help by telling someone about it. If you are the victim, then you should talk to a friend or the RCMP.
Again, other colleagues of mine have mentioned the NWT Seniors’ Society and I wanted to publicly thank them for all the work they’ve put into addressing the issue of elder abuse in our Territory. I’d also like to thank this government and the Department of Health and Social Services for the material and the campaign to tackle elder abuse in this Territory.
In closing, please, if you see someone – anyone -- being abused in our communities, report it. It’s the only way to stop it.