Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Premier, the Minister responsible for the Executive. They are relative to the final report of the Coalition Against Family Violence, which was published on March 31st of this year. It was a result of about eight years of work.
The coalition was begun in 2003 and has been doing great work on behalf of our residents since then. They’re a group of 21 bodies, both NGOs and government.
There have been two action plans to date with regard to family violence, and the second phase will end in March of 2012. Phase three, a continuation of the Family Violence Acton Plan, is absolutely required. I’d like to ask the Premier, the Minister for the Executive, what action the Government of the Northwest Territories is taking to ensure that a phase three action plan will be planned for and funded following the end of the March 2012 period. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we will be reaching the date of dissolution of the 16th Assembly, our work is going to be part of the transition process so that the Members of the 17th Assembly can review the recommendations that have been put forward in the most recent report.
I didn’t hear the Minister say anything in the past tense. It sounded like it was all in the future. I’d like to ask the Minister, since that report was published on March 31, 2011, has there been any action on the part of the government to start dealing with the 19 recommendations which are included in that report. Thank you.
The departments of Justice and Health and Social Services have been reviewing that work and are trying to make things happen through our Building Our Future Strategic Initiative Committee. But again, the next process and business plan cycle will have to go through the 17th Assembly.
Thanks to the Minister. He leads me right into my next question. Thank you for that.
It’s hard to believe, but I’m sure that staff are soon going to be developing the 2013 operations budget, and I mentioned there are 19 recommendations in this report. I’d like to know, specific to three recommendations in the report which ask for core funding from the government, will these be considered by GNWT staff as the budget is developed, these three recommendations which ask for core funding.
As I have stated, the recommendations, 19 of them in all, will be reviewed by the 17th Assembly and they will have to decide what they prioritize and would direct to actually be included in that business plan.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Your final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. From my perspective as a Member, if I’m not presented with options to fund these three specific recommendations with core funding, then I can’t vote on them. So I would ask the Minister to seriously consider adding core funding for those programs in the business plan.
Part of the report states the coalition has made great strides to shift attitudes and enhance services to reduce family violence and abuse, and I think it’s been an extremely valuable program. I’d like to know if the Minister can advise, at this point -- and I suspect I’ll get an answer that it’s up to the next Assembly -- but I’d like to know whether or not the Minister feels that the government is committed to following up on the good work that’s been done and making sure that there is a phase three to continue this good work after March of 2012. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct. As we’re talking about 2012 and beyond in the 17th Assembly after it actually goes through the phase of becoming familiar with what’s on the deck and looking at the initial plans of departments and making recommendations, the work that has been done, we’re going to ensure that the recommendations and the work we’ve done jointly -- because government staff have been involved and part of the team -- will carry forward those recommendations to see what could be adopted. That’s the best I can do at this late stage of our government. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
