This new law came into effect on April 1, 2005. It gives people new choices to deal with family violence. Any time of the day or night, a person can call the RCMP or a toll-free crisis line to talk to a family violence counsellor. They have several different choices and in emergencies, the police or counsellor can help them apply for an emergency protection order. A justice of the peace considers the history of family violence in the relationship and can make orders that will work for the family. Supreme Court judges review every order within three days of receiving it, and can call a hearing for more information. Legal aid lawyers can help both the victims and violent family members.

Madam Speaker, emergency protection orders give similar protection to a restraining order. The main difference is that the new orders can be issued within hours and give protection right away. Men, women, children and elders can call and get help right away. Over the past two months, justices of the peace have made a dozen orders to keep people safe from violent family members. That’s 12 families, Madam Speaker, who have gotten help within a few hours to protect them from violent family members. The men, women, children and elders who have received orders are safer now. This law helps the most vulnerable people in our society stay safe in their own homes. It provides a balance between the need to protect victims and the need to have a process that is fair. Emergency protection orders gives everyone in the family time to think things over and decide what they need to do to stay safe. Some families will want to go to counselling. Others will need longer lasting protection from a violent person. The new orders give them enough time to make those arrangements.

Our first priority, Madam Speaker, was to train RCMP officers and family violence counsellors to help people apply for orders. We are now working to make sure people know how to get an order. Justice staff are travelling around the NWT with the Coalition Against

Family Violence. They are talking to people about family violence and training key referral sources: social workers, nurses and people who work for community organizations like shelters. We’ve also placed posters and booklets in every community. You can see our ads on CBC North and hear them on community radio stations in local languages.

Madam Speaker, family violence is a serious problem in the NWT. Our residents are many times more likely to be victims of violence than people in the rest of Canada. We are sending a strong message that as a community we believe that victims have the right to be safe in their own homes. This has been a collaborative effort between Justice, the RCMP, Health and Social Services, local social workers and non-government organizations like the YWCA and the Native Women’s Association.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the members of the Coalition Against Family Violence who have been working together to find innovative ways to reduce this problem in our society. This coalition includes GNWT and community groups that care about family violence. It’s an example of what we can do when we work together. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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