Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have to bring to light a serious issue that affects residents of Hay River and many other communities. The Family Support Centre in Hay River has been serving the Northwest Territories for nearly 30 years; it provides a safe and supportive place for women and their children who are fleeing abusive and potentially failed relationships. Despite offering an essential service, the GNWT provides funding that is inadequate even in relation to other shelters in the territory. The mandate of this government states in plain language that we will take action on the crisis of family and community violence. There is no better to start than at the ground level. We must ensure that our shelters are funded through the work that is needed. The Family Support Centre doesn't just serve Hay River; it serves a dozen communities spanning the ridings of six MLAs. Women are often brought to the shelter by police after being battered and victimized. The RCMP will take the woman's picture in the driveway and leave her at the doorstep of the shelter. Often she has young children in tow. In evenings and on weekends the centre can only afford one scheduled employee. This means that in addition to caring for up to ten women and children already at the shelter the employee must also attend to a family still reeling from a recent trauma. Staff are contending with ever increasing levels of crisis management related to family violence, mental health, addictions, health problems, and child protection. Admissions have increased nearly five-fold in this past year alone. Despite that, the centre has not had an increase in core funding in three years. This means that the centre can't attract and retain staff with the experience and training to meet the needs of the victims. The centre is also in constant need of repair. The roof has been leaking for three years causing extensive damage and making one space unusable. The sprinkler system is nearing the end of its life and is in need of replacement. In addition, the space is just too small to accommodate all the needs. There isn't even an indoor play area save for a three foot by three foot space in the living room. On top of all this the government stopped paying the centre's utilities in August 2015 which adds an additional expense of at least $18,000 per year to the centre's already strained budgets. The wraparound services needed to help the victims are also lacking. Counselling service is needed within 24 hours of arriving, yet the victims sometimes have to wait up to four weeks. Victims are often forced back into abusive relationships. My time is running out, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was speaking of the wraparound services and up to four-week waiting times to receive counselling. In addition, victims are often forced to return to abusive relationships because of homelessness, poverty, problems securing housing, employment, and lack of daycare. Mr. Speaker, obviously two and a half minutes is not enough time to address all these issues, but I just want to make sure that this government and the public are aware of this dire situation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members’ statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
