WHEREAS Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories wish to acknowledge the profound grief experienced by families who suffer the death of a small child, infant or preterm baby;
AND WHEREAS this devastating tragedy often occurs suddenly, without warning, as a result of miscarriage, stillbirth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), accident, or other causes or complications;
AND WHEREAS SIDS is the number one cause of death in Canada for healthy infants under the age of one;
AND WHEREAS the tragedy of pregnancy and infant loss, which exacts a terrible emotional toll, may be preventable in some instances;
AND WHEREAS the 15th day of October is recognized in parts of Canada, and in many other jurisdictions around the world, as a day of remembrance and awareness of pregnancy and infant loss;
AND WHEREAS increased awareness of the causes and impacts surrounding pregnancy and infant loss may lead to greater understanding, support and resources in communities across the Northwest Territories;
AND WHEREAS a day of remembrance honours the lives of children taken far too soon and supports grieving parents, grandparents, siblings and other family members whose lives are forever altered by the heartbreak of losing a child;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the Legislative Assembly resolves to formally observe October 15th as a special day of awareness and remembrance for pregnancy and infant loss in the Northwest Territories.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues.
“Jacob Ryan was born on October 2, 2008, at 3:45 a.m. The doctors said he was perfect but would never take his first breath. I was only 22 weeks into the pregnancy. His lungs were too underdeveloped, so it was a stillbirth. The hardest thing that I ever had to go through was to pass this little body to the nurse, knowing we would not leave the hospital with our son.”
I read this account that was written by a constituent and which precipitated the bringing forward of this motion today.
“I did my best to make it appear to others that everything was okay. To everyone else, it seemed that I had successfully dealt with the loss and moved on with life. The death of my child was not a big deal, and we would just try again later. The truth was that losing Jacob was heartbreaking. Almost instantly I was filled with shame and guilt. Shame that I should have known something was wrong and the nagging guilt that I had somehow been responsible for his death. There were constant reminders that we did not have our baby, which left me depressed, angry and feeling alone. In the months following our loss, it was painful having to hear that other couples were expecting and even harder having to see them bring their babies home.
“It was close to the first anniversary of his death that I finally started the process of accepting the loss of Jacob. For me, it started with the realization that life is not always fair and bad things happen. It was also during this time that I was forced to deal with the disappointment and heartbreak I still felt over the earlier pregnancy which had ended in a first-trimester miscarriage. I was fortunate enough to be able to connect with others who shared their stories and helped me discover that it was possible to make something good out of my experience.
“Although we have since been able to bring home a healthy baby girl from the hospital, I will never get over the memory and pain of having a miscarriage or of having to bury Jacob. I have been told numerous times over the last few years that you do not get over a loss like this, but you can learn to live with it. Since we’ve lost Jacob, I have been surprised by the number of people who approached us and said that they also had experienced a similar type of loss. Until then, I had no idea that these individuals had ever been in the same situation as we had. Losing a baby is not a happy, feel-good topic, so it is understandable that it isn’t something that comes up in casual conversation. It can be uncomfortable for both the person sharing as well as for those who are listening, even more so for those who have been fortunate enough not to have lost a child. However, it is something that many individuals and families face. If you haven’t experienced it directly, you know someone who has.”
“In many provinces, October 15th has already been declared as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. It has been designated as a time to draw attention and educate others on miscarriages, stillbirths, SIDS and the death of newborns. It was not created as a day to get sympathy or make others feel bad, instead as an opportunity to celebrate the little lives that are not here with us and show support to the families who have lost them. The goal is to encourage others to share their story and start a conversation that can lead to an openness of the topic. Everyone deals with their loss in their own way and time; however, it is important that they know that they are not alone. There are others who have had the same experience, those who understand firsthand the struggle and pain that they are going through. These people are willing to support and help them if they want it.”
I’m happy to recognize today in the gallery a young woman who has started a support group for parents who have lost infants. I’m really pleased to see that that support is there in the community and I think that we have a role here as a government to go one step further, to recognize this one day and to offer our support in any way we can to parents, to grandparents of families who have lost a little one. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. To the motion. I will allow the seconder to speak to the motion, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think Mrs. Groenewegen put it very wonderfully in that letter in the sense of she spoke her heart. I think the letter conveys the pain that the mother had struggled forward through.
I have no doubt that this is a burden that is carried by many, if not a haunting reality that they go through every day, knowing that they have done everything perfect. Everything may have appeared perfect and then the world comes tumbling down around them.
This is a struggle that many of us may think has not touched us, but in some ways, when we dig deep, we find out that there are families around us that have gone through this loss.
This motion may not be the answer to SIDS, but it is the answer to sometimes the hopelessness you feel when you don’t think anyone is listening. This motion, in some small way, I think, reaches out to folks in our world and says the Legislature understands and hears you. Although we wish we could help with every individual struggle, the one message it should deliver is you are not alone and we grieve with you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. To the motion, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am especially pleased to rise in support of this motion. I would like to thank Mrs. Groenewegen for bringing it forward and I would like to thank Mr. Hawkins for seconding the motion.
I don’t know if it was mentioned, but Yellowknife has established a support group in the last couple of years, called Face2Face. I am very proud to say one of the founding members is a Frame Lake resident.
It’s appreciated that the male Members of this House are supportive. Mr. Hawkins has spoken in support. I presume other Members, and I hope other Members, will speak in support.
This motion speaks to a very unique loss and to very unique emotions that can only be felt by females. Yes, it’s felt by both parents, but females, unfortunately, have a particularly strong connection to a baby.
Recent communication from Mrs. Groenewegen has made it very obvious to me that this motion is extremely important for the recognition of people who are suffering this loss. It is very important and the group members are really pleased that this motion has come forward. There is undoubtedly, in my mind, many other people in the territory and in this city who have experienced this loss who aren`t part of any group. This maybe, hopefully, will bring some recognition to that and will assist them to join the group if they feel that is what they need to do.
I wish it weren`t so, but I can attest to the devastation that is felt by parents on the loss of a child. If this motion brings some awareness, provides some awareness, if it provides some hope to grieving parents and mothers, if it brings some support to them, to any of our residents, then I think that’s wonderful and it’s the least we can do as an Assembly.
In my mind, it’s most unfortunate that the previous Health Minister chose to ignore the request when it was presented three years ago. I am really pleased now that it is here and that this day, this event in people’s lives will get the recognition that it deserves. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. To the motion. Mr. Moses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I would like to just offer my condolences to all the parents and family members who have lost a small child, an infant or even a preterm baby.
I do rise in support of the motion. It sheds light on many different issues here, first being that this government supports the promotion of healthy pregnancies and takes into consideration not only the role of the mother but the role of the father, as well, and any other family members that might be involved.
In some of my previous job positions, I worked in health promotion for quite a number of years. I remember going to prenatal classes and talking to parents and mothers and fathers about the use of tobacco and the exposure of environmental tobacco smoke to not only the pregnant mother but also to small children and infants, and all the effects of environmental tobacco smoke. When this was brought forth, it brought back a memory of talking about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, stillbirths, miscarriages and the connection that all those have with not only environmental tobacco smoke, which is second-hand smoke in the household, but also it brings forth illicit drug use and alcohol consumption before, during and after pregnancy.
The motion itself recognizes what people have gone through, but it also brings awareness that we have to promote healthy pregnancies, healthy births and healthy families in the communities and in the Northwest Territories.
I applaud Mrs. Groenewegen for bringing this forth today and Mr. Hawkins for seconding the motion and all those who are going to speak in favour of the motion. I think it’s a good opportunity for this job to start recognizing that and bringing that to the forefront. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. To the motion. Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all know people who have suffered from pregnancy or infant loss. Through the dedication of some mothers, we have been learning a lot recently about the cost of this loss. I appreciate the work that those people are doing to bring that recognition forward. They are also pointing out the need to acknowledge this loss and provide support for those who suffer from it and especially the emotional trauma that goes along with it. So this is a real educational effort as well as an attempt to get some recognition on a much broader scale through this motion.
I would like to thank, again, those people who are bringing this perfecta forward and also for the movers of the motion, Mrs. Groenewegen and Mr. Hawkins. I think this will be a step in the right direction, and as my colleague Mr. Moses has mentioned, there are many other aspects to this that members of the public are bringing forward, particularly those who have suffered such loss and giving some profile to it. I hope it will enter into all of our thinking. This day will be a good reminder of that every year, if we need such a reminder. Thanks to all. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. To the motion. Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank Mrs. Groenewegen for bringing this motion to the floor and having Mr. Hawkins second the motion and the Members who spoke in support of this motion. I think Mr. Bromley said it best, if we have a day that is dedicated to this issue here.
It is a very personal issue. We can talk about bridges, roads and infrastructure, but how do we talk about a human being, a gift from God, of our choosing? How do we talk about the intangible questions of what a parent is going through, what a mother is going through, what a father is going through?
I have dealt with this issue in my past life. I’ve dealt with it in the last 10 years as an MLA. There are questions for the young mothers especially. I was always reminded that this issue here is best answered by the elders. They talk about the little angel coming down and the angel is here for a purpose. We don’t know what happens to give comfort to the mother or to the father. The elders are telling us that there is something bigger that’s at play. I just wanted to say that there is an importance and, as hard as it may be, that when you sit with the elders, they explain it in a way that’s comforting for the parents and comforting for me. I had to talk to a young mother about the loss of a special person that’s coming to life here. It’s difficult.
So I want to thank the mover and the seconder, and for speaking on this issue. It’s something as legislators to be reminded of the close, intimate issues that we have to deal with as opposed to the far, distant, cold issues of infrastructure stuff. Sometimes we need to be reminded to come back and remember what’s important and to listen to people. Even by this motion, to have a day makes a difference to somebody out there. I will be supporting this motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. To the motion. Mr. Beaulieu.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I rise in favour of the motion today. I recognize that this is a very serious matter for some families. As indicated, I think sometimes the loss of a very young child goes almost unnoticed by the general population, even if it’s in the communities. But it never goes unnoticed or is forgotten by the parents.
I knew a young lady as a young mother who lost a child, and 30 years later it was still on her mind, and her baby was 35 days old. This is direction to the Legislature that Cabinet will be voting in favour of the motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. I will allow the mover of the motion to have closing remarks. Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues on both sides of the House for this gesture of support to parents who have lost a child. It means a lot to them, I know, and I would also like to thank my constituent who had the courage to raise this issue and asked me to bring this matter forward to this House. I’d like to thank her for sharing her story about her loss and hopefully we can be supportive of those around us in a more meaningful way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called.
---Carried
