Michael Nadli

Mr. Speaker, today marks the start of Family Violence Awareness Week across the NWT. This year's theme is Healthy Relationships and Healthy Communities. Teaching healthy relationships between men and women, and fostering respect for women, through public programs and traditional values learned from our elders can help curb family violence in the NWT, and I encourage everyone to play their part. Together, we can bring an end to family violence.

Mr. Speaker, this is a matter of critical importance and urgency. Families are the basic unit of our society, and the relationships between grandparents...

Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The society we live in has strict ideals for what it means to be a man. Men are proud; they want to do things for themselves, and reaching out for help is rare. However, in my own personal wellness, and I share this because I believe men need help, I must tell you that admission is truly the first step towards that help. I must tell you that there are people who care. There are resources out there. Get the help you need. I went through the Domestic Violence Treatment Option and the A New Day Program, and I continue counselling in my journey of...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I provided my thoughts, just acknowledging that we did revise our mandate. As colleagues have put it, it was a collaborative process between Regular MLAs and Cabinet. It is commendable that with 19 MLAs with diverse backgrounds and, of course, the diversity of the ridings that we represent, we came together and came up with a product that we think will serve at least the agenda of this government. We have two years to try to set our sights in terms of ensuring that the goals that we have set for ourselves are measurable in respect of at least being timely, following up at...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my years as MLA, I have witnessed many occasions where Cabinet has found funding for urgent projects and supplementary initiatives. This suggests to me that the funding is there and can be found if there’s a political will to find it. Will the Premier be hero for the Northwest Territories’ friendship centres and work with his Cabinet colleagues to find funding for them?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I spoke about the vital role the Zhatie Koe Friendship Centre plays in Fort Providence and the uncertainty of funding commitments to the Northwest Territories friendship centres. My questions are to the Premier today. My first question is: when the Northwest Territories’ group of friendship centres sought core funding from Cabinet last spring, what was the outcome of that meeting? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it may surprise the people to know that our Friendship Centres are a part of a network of 118 centres across Canada. We are represented in the North by the Northwest Territories for Nunavut Council of Friendship Centres, and initially by the National Association of Friendship Centres, or the NAFC.

Nationwide, friendship centres provide culturally enhanced programs and services to more than 780,000.00 Indigenous people in more than 100 communities, however, the door are open to everyone. Friendship centres provide critical social programs for the residents of our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. He has indicated that he’s working with the Northwest Territories Association of Friendship Centres for a process to work together. Will the Premier commit to the Northwest Territories’ Association of Friendship Centres that he will work together with the Cabinet, along with our federal colleagues, to ensure that there’s consistent and timely transfer of funding to friendship centres.

I’d like to thank the Premier for his reply. My second question is: in the absence of core funding, will Cabinet consider bridged funding for the Zhatie Koe Friendship Centre to ensure they can stay in operation until their federal funding comes through?

Mr. Speaker, this makes no sense to me. Mr. Speaker, with assistance to build capacity, maybe the friendship centre could get these housekeeping items done? Instead, they are too busy trying to raise funds on their own through bake sales and bingo. They are always looking for creative means for fundraising. Recently, they joined the local "Chase the Ace" to fund the youth centre.

Mr. Speaker, friendship centres are not federal organizations. They provide vital social programming in our communities. When is the GNWT going to recognize the important work they do by funding them so they do not...

The Minister clearly states that the action of the government is evolving, and again, elders seek reassurance. If there are indeed screening tools within the strategy and the department is employing those, what are the next steps for those who have flagged the abuse and for the elders themselves in terms of the screening tools that are employed by the department?