Julie Green

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. The report I mentioned in my statement today reported to a Ministerial committee on spousal assault in the Assembly of the day in 1985. This committee brought together a wide range of service providers, officials from government departments, the Status of Women, and others whose work included family violence. What would it take for this Minister to treat this crisis as a crisis and re-establish this coordinated approach to the issue? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker:

"Spousal assault in the Northwest Territories is a social problem of grave proportions. Wives, husbands and lovers have their eyes blackened, their teeth knocked out, their ribs and legs broken, their bodies bruised, and their lives disfigured by violence as a result of assaults which occur daily in the Northwest Territories. For many victims, beatings are regular and frequent."

"Spousal assault strikes at the heart of family and community life. It reaches every part of our society. Many of those who assault were raised in families where spousal assault has taken...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Justice. Has the Minister met with the RCMP to discuss the police response to the woman who was taken to the cells after being sexually assaulted? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, according to Article 6 of the Territorial Police Agreement, the Minister will set priorities, objectives, and goals for the police. Will the Minister commit to developing a more robust relationship with women, with tools such as third-party reporting with the police rather than just leaving it up to them? Mahsi.

I'm glad to hear that meeting happened. Can you tell me whether there was any commitment to change on the part of the RCMP and how they handled women in this situation?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about an incident that calls into question the trust that should exist between women and the Yellowknife detachment of the RCMP. That trust has been eroded here by the police response to a recent assault. The national leadership of the RCMP is talking about a new relationship with women, but I am concerned the news hasn't reached "G" Division here, in the NWT.

In May of 2017, a man sexually assaulted an intoxicated woman in the alley behind the movie theatre in Yellowknife. Theatre staff called the RCMP, who arrested the assailant. What is...

Mr. Speaker, in order to encourage women to report sexual assault, the Family Violence Shelter in Whitehorse provides for third-party reporting. Kaushee's Place has staff trained to take statements from women about what happened to them and to collect medical evidence. Is the Minister familiar with third-party reporting of sexual assault in Whitehorse, and is he interested in having it here?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have seen incredible growth in tourism during the period of the Tourism 2020 plan, and this sector of our economy needs more support than it currently gets. My question for the Minister is: will the new plan include more money for both community investment and product development than the current plan has? Thank you.

As I understand that answer, two points are prominent. One is that it is our fault for not asking, and the other is that SEED is the alternative. Are those, in fact, the case?

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to introduce the mayor-elect of Yellowknife and my constituent, Rebecca Alty. I would also like to recognize Nicole Latour, who is also my constituent, and thank her for her ongoing work running elections in our territory. Mahsi.