Julie Green

Thank you to the Minister. This list of communities, I believe, has some market capacity. Once again, Norman Wells, Inuvik, Fort Smith, Hay River, and Fort Simpson. It was the Minister of Justice who told us that the RCMP was looking at getting out of housing in these communities. I just want to reiterate my question, whether the Minister can confirm there is no existing capacity in any of those communities to meet current RCMP housing needs.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today my questions are for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. Today, we learned via the media that the NWT Housing Corporation is planning to provide brand new housing units in Norman Wells, Inuvik, Fort Smith, Hay River, and Fort Simpson for the RCMP. Why is the NWT Housing Corporation taking on this role when the federal spokesman is quoted as saying that it doesn't provide value for money? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some things haven't changed. It is difficult to be openly gay in grade school. Last week we celebrated Pink Shirt Day, a means to combat bullying in school. This began as an important initiative to support gay youth, to promote their self-acceptance and acceptance by the rest of us, and has of course gone on to cover all forms of excuses for bullying. What has changed in 50 years? While the law changed, many gays and lesbians live their sexuality quietly and privately because society as a whole is not supportive of us.

Fifteen years ago, I was part of a gay and lesbian...

Thank you to the Minister for that. Could the Minister elaborate on the additional revenue that will be realized through the provision of this housing? To what extent will it subsidize public housing in those same communities?

I would like to ask the Minister whether she knows what is going to happen to the housing that the feds no longer want or need.

I know from the same media source that this plan has not yet been taken to the Financial Management Board for approval, and I do wonder if that is putting the cart before the horse. But before going to FMB, can the Minister confirm there is no existing capacity to meet these RCMP housing needs in the privately owned market in the communities where they are getting out of housing?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to introduce Josee Clermont. She is the [English translation not provided] of College nordique francophone and she is one of my constituents. We welcome her here. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Government of Canada's decision to right a historic wrong by pardoning Everett George Klippert. Mr. Klippert was the last man in Canada to be charged, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison for being gay. Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago, gay men were routinely harassed by police even though they engaged in sex that took place between consenting adults. They were charged with gross indecency. Mr. Klippert had been charged with gross indecency in his hometown of Calgary and jailed for three years. When he finished his sentence, Mr. Klippert decided to...

I am looking forward to some additional detail on that, especially as it relates to which communities the housing is going to be provided in. The Housing Corporation staff have said that there will be absolutely no effect of the provision of housing to the RCMP on the current waiting list for social housing. Can she confirm that that is the case?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's recently been confirmed that the Northwest Territories continues to bear the shameful distinction of having the second highest rate of police-reported family violence in Canada. Statistics Canada reports that set against a national average of 243 incidents per 100,000 persons, the NWT comes in at eight to nine times the national average, a rate eclipsed only by Nunavut. These abuses include the second-highest rates of violence against children and youth, as well as seniors and of course, against intimate partners, most often women. Eight women were...