Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the House is aware of the recent United Nations’ decision that finally brought justice to NWT resident Cecelia Kell. In 1995 Ms. Kell fled her abusive relationship to a safe haven in the Alison McAteer House.
While she was away, her non-Aboriginal spouse, who was serving as a director of the Rae-Edzo Housing Authority, had her name removed as a co-holder from the Aboriginal housing lease with the approval of the LHO board. Ms. Kell was served an eviction order and lost her home. That began a legal journey of 17 excruciating years through a series of rulings eventually leading to the Supreme Court. Finding no justice even there, she took her case for review under the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. In its judgment this year, the United Nations found that the Government of Canada and the NWT, the NWT Housing Corporation and the Canadian legal system itself acted prejudicially by discriminating against an Aboriginal woman. The UN recommended the government provide her a house and financial compensation for material and moral harm. It also recommended the government recruit and train more Aboriginal women to provide legal aid, including on domestic and property rights.
Responding to the decision, the GNWT has said that a lot has improved since 1995, that adequate checks and balances are now in place and that no further changes are planned as a result of the recommendation. Yet, in its recent update on Housing Corporation’s operations, the Auditor General for Canada cited unsatisfactory progress on recommendations to establish a clear picture of the state of the delivery of the Public Housing Program, including whether local housing organizations are processing. I’m still waiting to hear how Ms. Kell is being compensated for her suffering.
These events are a source of shame for us all. We shouldn’t have to rely on you and the Auditor General to tell us how to protect our citizens’ rights. As we embark upon our review of the Legal Aid Act and services, these recommendations should be firmly in mind. The recommendations of the 2011 community justice review and the phase 3 Coalition for Family Violence Report provides valuable advice for ensuring such injustice never occurs again.
I will have questions for the Minister of Housing. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
