Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Members for their comments as well.
FASD affects far too many Northerners. As a government, we are committed to supporting people who live with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. We are always seeking out new and better ways to offer that support. That can include working with both Yukon and Nunavut and learning from their experiences. We certainly appreciate the commitment that led Ryan Leef, the Yukon Member of Parliament, to introduce this private member’s bill in Parliament.
People with FASD need access to services and supports when they run into trouble with the law. They can have difficulty understanding the consequences of their actions and we agree that the court system needs more flexibility to deal meaningfully with them.
In the past decade, the Yukon has shown leadership in their response to FASD in criminal courts. Since 2007 they have provided support to those with FASD through their community wellness court. The Northwest Territories has been working very closely with the Yukon as we prepare to launch our own wellness court later this year. This court will not only deal with persons with FASD but with people with other cognitive impairments, mental health and addictions issues.
That flexibility, Mr. Speaker, is a key part of the project. The primary goal of the NWT wellness court is to reduce recidivism while helping offenders access needed services and supports related to the underlying issues and challenges that they live with.
Federal, provincial and territorial officials are working on a justice response to FASD and other cognitive disabilities. They are collaborating with the Canadian Bar Association and reaching out to professionals who are involved in diagnoses and assessment. Any changes to federal legislation, however, whether through Mr. Leef’s private member’s bill or other initiatives, must come with sufficient funding so we can deliver quality justice services to all of our citizens.
Mr. Speaker, Cabinet will be supporting this motion today. Thank you.