Assembly Vote
18th Assembly, 2nd SessionNovember 2, 2016
Motion Sponsor
Topic
Motion Text
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. "A New Day" Men's Healing Program: WHEREAS taking action on the crisis of family and community violence is a priority of the 18th Legislative Assembly and the mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories commits to continuing support for a healing program for men who use violence in intimate relationships;
AND WHEREAS colonization and the residential school experience are recognized factors contributing to intimate partner violence in northern Canada and the mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories commits to implementing the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, especially related to violence against Indigenous women and girls;
AND WHEREAS northern research indicates that male violence against women is committed across the Northwest Territories, including communities where victims have no access to local RCMP detachments, local victims' services workers, and or local women's shelters and that, even where these services exist, communities continue to have high rates of gendered violence;
AND WHEREAS "the Northwest Territories has the second highest rate of police-reported family violence, at roughly 7.8 times the national average, as well as the second highest rate of police-reported intimate partner violence, at roughly seven times the national average and 3,536.1 women victims for every 100,000 people";
AND WHEREAS the "A New Day" Men's Healing Program is the only program in the Northwest Territories which directly addresses the healing needs of men who have used violence in their relationships to change men's behaviour and prevent future violence;
AND WHEREAS uncertainty surrounding the "A New Day" Men's Healing Program has negatively impacted current program delivery, and future program disruption would negatively impact both current and potential participants as well as their partners and families;
AND WHEREAS violence against women will not end until those individuals who commit such acts are equipped to choose, and do choose, another path;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the Legislative Assembly strongly recommends that the Department of Justice take immediate action to extend the service contract and funding for delivery of the "A New Day" Men's Healing Program by one year, to December 31, 2017, thereby granting sufficient time for the completion of a program evaluation as well as any subsequent required program transitions;
AND FURTHER, the Legislative Assembly strongly recommends that the Department of Justice inform the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning of its plan to implement the recommendations of this motion before the end of the 2016 calendar year;
AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this motion within 120 days.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.