Mr. Speaker, we all have a role to play in stopping abuse from taking place in our homes. Unfortunately, family violence continues to be a significant concern.
We know violence in the homes of NWT residents is having long-term physical, social and economic impacts on family members, communities, and the territory as a whole.
Our Government Is Finishing The Planning For The New Narrative Therapy: Abuse Intervention Program. This is a three-year pilot project directed towards NWT men who use violence in their family relationships. Men may choose, or be mandated by the court to participate in this program. We have contracted with a community-based organization, the Healing Drum Society, to provide delivery of these services. They will be working closely with the Department of Justice.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
MINISTER’S STATEMENT 65-17(3):
Mr. Speaker, in October 2010, the Department of the Executive piloted a new initiative called the Single Window Service Centre. Centres, which were established in eight rural and remote communities across the Northwest Territories including Nahanni Butte, Fort Providence, Lutselk’e, Whatì, Fort Good Hope, Colville Lake, Aklavik and Ulukhaktok. Each centre is staffed by a locally hired government service officer. The centres help community residents access and navigate both Government of the Northwest Territories and federal programs. They also support Government of the Northwest Territories staff in the regional centres by providing information about departmental programs and services to residents.
A unique aspect of the initiative is the support that is provided to community elders. Every Thursday…
---[Technical difficulties]
Just one second, Mr. Premier. We are just having some technical difficulties for our interpreters.
I don’t know if that is the fire alarm or not.
---Laughter
But there’s a door right there and the other main door is right there. We’ll wait for a few minutes.
Okay, Mr. Premier. It’s working now.
Every Thursday the government service officers pay home visits to elders, providing assistance by interpreting, opening and explaining mail, and generally ensuring elders and others have better access to our programs and services as well as many services offered by our federal partners. Additionally, community residents can come into the Single Window Service Centre for assistance with filling out forms and applications on-line, through the use of the public computer. This electronic access has shortened response times and expedited the business of government at the community level.
Mr. Speaker, in the 20 months of operation, our government service officers provided assistance to clients more than 6,000 times. Given the success of the eight pilot centres, additional single window service centres and government service officer positions were established in Sachs Harbour, Tsiigehtchic, Tulita, Gameti and Fort Liard in 2012-13. Two more are planned for 2013-14.
The expansion of the Single Window Service Centre initiative also addresses the 17th Legislative Assembly’s priority to increase employment opportunities where they are needed most. The Department of the Executive is using existing funds to create these new government service officer positions in rural and remote communities. All currently staffed single window service centres employ Aboriginal women from their home community.
Furthermore, over the next year we will investigate the potential for expanding the scope of services government service officers provide and the communities in which single window service centres are based.
The Single Window Service Centre initiative has been a resounding success. They help residents gain much improved access to our government, especially in those more remote communities where Government of the Northwest Territories staff may not be located. The government service officers help residents access all of the benefits to which they are entitled; in that sense, Mr. Speaker, they are on the front lines of our efforts to reduce poverty.
Faster response times, the ability to provide services in the local language and having a familiar face in the office have all added to the success of the single window service centres.
I would like to thank all of the Members of this House for their strong support for the establishment and expansion of the centres. This is a great example of what we can achieve when we work together to make a real difference for people in our smaller communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
