Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Justice and it’s in regard to the joint staff relationship between the YWCA and the TTC. Madam Speaker, I heard, with interest, the Minister’s statement earlier today about the new legislation, the Protection Against Family Violence Act, which is groundbreaking legislation that just got started in April. It’s going to take some time to get it working well and, as the Minister indicated in his statement, the YWCA is a key organization in implementing this legislation. It is a clearing centre in Yellowknife and across the Territories. If there are, in communities, not a women’s centre or a family violence centre that the women can call, or men in some cases, the 1-800 line goes directly to the YWCA. I don’t know if the Minister of Justice is aware that the three key employees at the YWCA also work at TTC. I’d like to know if the Minister responsible for family violence and related issues was able to bring this to the Cabinet table or whether he’s even aware of it. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 83-15(4): Delivery Of Programs Under Protection Of Family Violence Legislation

Brendan Bell

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The 1-800 number does go directly to Alison McAteer House. I am aware of that. Many of the NGOs are better able to lever their resources by working together. There is much interconnectivity among NGOs, not just in Yellowknife but across the territory. I think we would find that if we looked at any number of programs being offered and delivered because oftentimes they are forced to deliver very good service, but on a shoestring budget. That certainly has been the case with the Y over a number of years. So am I aware that the Alison McAteer number is staffing the 1-800 number and providing a very key, integral role in the delivery of our family violence protection legislation? Yes. We value their support. We value that service and we think they will be critical in the success of this new legislation. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Bell. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 83-15(4): Delivery Of Programs Under Protection Of Family Violence Legislation

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The facts are that the three very specialized professionals such as a person involved in a project with child recovery or a person who works on teen dating, violence prevention and other specially trained people work in YWCA and they use the TTC as a place to practice their specialty. They also get up to one-third of their income working at TTC. Seeing as the Minister has already acknowledged the important role that the YWCA has to play in the implementation of this new act, what analysis, if any, has he done? If he has not done so already, would he commit to do that? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Minister Bell.

Further Return To Question 83-15(4): Delivery Of Programs Under Protection Of Family Violence Legislation

Brendan Bell

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I don’t believe we have any indication from Alison McAteer House that they will no longer be able to operate our 1-800 number line. I am certainly willing to sit down and discuss that with them. I think there are a number of months before any transition has been proposed. We do have some time to work out any of these operational challenges and we will certainly be able to be prepared to do that, but, as a first step, I will make sure we contact Alison McAteer House and discuss implementations for the provision of their service. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Bell. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 83-15(4): Delivery Of Programs Under Protection Of Family Violence Legislation

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s willingness to do that but, for the record, I just want to state once again how disappointed I am that all the Cabinet Ministers responsible for their portfolio have been neglectful in looking at the things that are applicable to their portfolios in talking about the transfer of TTC. Now, when the Minister contacts the Alison McAteer House which is run out of YWCA, would he consider increasing the funding of this organization to compensate for the loss they will have, seeing that he is already well aware of the shoestring budget that they operate under? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Minister Bell.

Further Return To Question 83-15(4): Delivery Of Programs Under Protection Of Family Violence Legislation

Brendan Bell

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Many, probably all, of our NGOs are fiscally challenged and could use more funding. I think that’s certainly a good discussion for us to have as a government with committee. I would certainly be prepared to do that. We are going into the business planning process and I am sure many other Ministers, as well the Minister of Health, would be prepared to have those kinds of discussions. We do rely on our NGOs to provide very valuable service right across the Northwest Territories and it is important to ensure that they have adequate funding. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Bell. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 83-15(4): Delivery Of Programs Under Protection Of Family Violence Legislation

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Speaker. May I ask the Minister to make a commitment to do a thorough analysis of the impact of the transfer of TTC on the operation of YWCA, including the Alison McAteer House, and report to either the Social Programs committee or to this House as soon as possible? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Minister Bell.

Further Return To Question 83-15(4): Delivery Of Programs Under Protection Of Family Violence Legislation

Brendan Bell

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am very confident that over the next 18 months we will have a number of discussions around the impacts and implications of this move of TTC. Certainly I am prepared to sit down with the Social Programs committee, of which the Member is the very able chair, have a discussion around the kinds of program impacts that might be seen and we can do a review, if that’s what the Member is interested in, and make sure that we have done everything we can to mitigate any loss for any program. Thank you, Madam Speaker.