Mr. Speaker, this Assembly is committed to sustainable, vibrant, safe communities and to taking action against family violence. Homes should be places where strong individuals and families support and love each other. All people have the right to live free from the fear of violence in their own homes and communities.
But we have challenges. The Northwest Territories has the second highest rate of family violence in Canada and we know that many incidents are never reported. This is a territorial tragedy. It affects every community. Many of our people live every day in fear.
With the release of the coroner’s report on the death of Alice Black, we are once again faced with some stark facts about how communities are struggling to cope with issues of addictions, family violence and security.
Strong leaders confront difficult issues. The Government of the Northwest Territories cannot address family violence on its own. We need the daily cooperation of community leaders, social service agencies and non-government organizations. Business, Aboriginal and community governments and individuals themselves have to call attention to the terrible toll family violence takes on its victims and society.
Our government funds shelters in Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith, Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk. They give victims and their children a safe place to stay while they think about what to do next. Emergency protection orders can be part of a longer-term safety plan for victims and their children. Staff are working with communities to make sure that victims
always have support and safe places to stay, no matter where they live in the Northwest Territories.
We need to change the way people think about family violence if we are going to end it. Family violence is not just about shelters. It is about making our homes and communities safe places to live. Our new Domestic Violence Treatment Options Court gives abusers a chance to change their behaviour. The interagency family violence protocols make sure that we all work together to provide the supports our clients need.
As my colleague the honourable Mr. Abernethy advised the House last Friday, “We have to change the attitude, we have to change the fundamental beliefs and ideas around family violence.” We need everyone to be part of this.
Mr. Speaker, the Members of this House are aware that one of the leading voices in this struggle is the Coalition Against Family Violence. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge their important contribution.
The coalition has offered its members, including the Government of the Northwest Territories, several recommendations to address family violence. They suggested a comprehensive social media strategy aimed at shifting attitudes and beliefs about family violence. They recommended that we implement a 24-week program targeting men who use violence. And they asked all of their members to continue their efforts to strengthen community outreach.
Mr. Speaker, later today the Minister of Finance will be introducing a supplementary appropriation bill that includes $367,000 for the Department of Health and Social Services to support initiatives related to the Family Violence Action Plan. Together with the Minister of Health and Social Services and my Cabinet colleagues, long-term, ongoing investments are being developed as part of the business planning process for next year.
This supplementary appropriation also includes an additional $49,000 to support a community-based intervention program to assist men to direct their own change to end violence. Ongoing support will be sought through the 2013-2014 business review process.
Mr. Speaker, family violence cannot be a special awareness week or a one-time initiative. Our health and well-being depends on breaking the silence and working together in meaningful and coordinated ways to end all forms of family violence. When we see violence, we need to speak up. Protecting the most vulnerable people in our society is everyone’s responsibility.
This Assembly is part of the solution. We cannot be overwhelmed by the challenges; there is no choice but to continue. We need to be strong leaders. We need to speak up. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Members, before we continue on with Ministers’ statements, I would like to welcome a former Speaker and MLA, Mr. Sam Gargan, who is in the House today.
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At the table, we have our former Commissioner, Speaker, Minister, Member, Sergeant-at-Arms, Honourary Clerk of the House, Mr. Anthony W.J. Whitford. It’s always good to have you here.
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The honourable Minister of Human Resources, Mr. Abernethy.
MINISTER’S STATEMENT 47-17(3):
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to speak today about the successful negotiation of three new agreements with the bargaining units that represent our employees.
A contract has been negotiated and ratified with the Northwest Territories Medical Association, and collective agreements have been negotiated and ratified with the Union of Northern Workers and the Northwest Territories Teachers’ Association. They are all four-year agreements, which provide our employees with predictable, stable terms of employment in a volatile economic environment. Four-year agreements also provide the GNWT with the stability we need to address the large priorities of the 17th Legislative Assembly, including devolution and a sustainable health care system. The increases provided to employees are very reasonable, given our fiscal position and the global financial situation. In fact, when comparing our settlements to those in other public governments across the country, I would venture to say that we are providing an excellent package.
The GNWT values its employees. We treated them fairly and respectfully throughout the collective bargaining process. I want to thank our partners – the NWT Medical Association, the NWT Teachers’ Association and the Union of Northern Workers – for coming to the table as partners with shared interests, wanting to find workable solutions to the challenges we all faced. I would also like to thank all the staff involved – within both the GNWT and the bargaining units – in negotiating, researching, analyzing and proposing creative solutions during negotiations.
While there are a range of accomplishments in all of the new agreements, I would like to highlight two memoranda of understanding that were negotiated with the Union of Northern Workers, given the profile that these issues warranted over the past six months.
The first MOU involves the safe disclosure of information by public servants. Both parties want to create an environment where employees who, in good faith, believe a wrongdoing has occurred, can bring that forward freely, confidentially and safely. Employees should never have to fear reprisal when they come forward to raise concerns about potential wrongdoing.
Through this MOU, we have agreed to jointly develop interim provisions that provide protection for employees who disclose information in certain situations. These will include an independent mechanism for reporting situations where the employee, in good faith, believes wrongdoing is occurring. They will remain in place until legislation providing protection for employees who disclose information is enacted by this Assembly.
The second MOU addresses rest periods, which represent an important safety issue. There are circumstances where the lack of adequate rest between scheduled hours of work may present health and safety concerns in some work environments. The Government of the Northwest Territories and the Union of Northern Workers will establish a joint working group to review all relevant issues related to employee rest periods, to test implementation and to provide unanimous recommendations.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is very pleased to have negotiated these agreements with our partners who represent our employees. We appreciate the valuable work carried out by GNWT employees. Despite challenging economic times, we wanted to provide terms of employment, including salary increases, that recognize this. We are now working to implement the collective agreements, and to continue to work collaboratively with the bargaining units in partnership during the life of these new agreements. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
