Ronald Bonnetrouge

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and TGIF to everyone.

Mr. Speaker, in June of every year, we celebrate National Indigenous History Month. During this month, we celebrate the rich history, heritage, resilience, and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples across Canada.

There's a writer who shared that since time in memorial, our oral traditions have been passed from generation to generation, teach our beliefs, history, values, practices, customs, rituals, and relationships. Mr. Speaker, this goes across all nations.

Our elders, also known as knowledgekeepers, pass on our culture and teachings...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I support this motion. Housing NWT needs to find an equitable solution and engagement with the people who have been in a housing unit all their lives. Many, if not all of these people, have grown up in the units either with their mom and dad, brothers and sisters, or other family members. It becomes very hard for these people to give up such units as they have become emotionally attached.

We need to be mindful of the past promises of the NWT Housing Corporation to the people. And they've told them that all they need to do in the past was to pay $5 a month for one year, then...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister for her answer. When I asked questions of lots of my leadership, you know, they'd never heard of the CFS act. The only ones that know about it are the affected families who have been approached and their kids been taken away and then given back to them.

Mr. Speaker, I've been made aware that the CFS staff in Fort Providence will be moved out of the local health centre. I'm aware that they currently have two offices in the building. I see from the supplementary estimates that they will be moved into new leased space within the community.

Can the...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister for what not answering my original question. But I appreciate her review of it and the fact that it's more on prevention.

Mr. Speaker, an act as such can lead to criminal charges to a family member depending on the seriousness of child discipline. This act has far reaching implications and presence including in the schools, which parents aren't aware of.

My question to the Minister is when are the communities going to be made aware of this act that will and can affect their families? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Child and Family Services Standards and Procedures Manual states the Northwest Territories Child and Family Services Act mandates the provision of protective and supportive services for children and families.

It goes on to state this mandate is the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Services and regional health and social services authorities to jointly fulfill the obligations under the Child and Family Services Act.

Mr. Speaker, the main objective of the act is for the protection and wellbeing of children. It goes on to tell parents how...

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Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I think what I've been alluding to in my first two questions here is whether communities are even aware of this act. Because I come from a small community. We never hear of the Child and Family Services Act in our communities, let alone the First Nations organizations who are accountable to their members and also all the regional First Nations organizations that I speak to, and they said they never hear of the act or anybody ever approaching their assemblies or meetings to make them aware that there is such an act in place.

And as the Minister alluded, I guess the act has...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are related to my Member's statement on the Child and Family Services Act.

I note the intentions of the act are to prevent child abuse within a family unit with the needed education of families to comply with this act. Education First Nations of the act is a winwin for the intent of the act.

Can the Minister advise if the education and awareness of this act has been made to First Nations organizations and has the department advised the organizations at a duly convened meetings of all the regional assemblies. Mahsi.

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