Frederick Blake Jr.

Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to ask the Minister what options are available to parents and children who would like to enroll in a different language class?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, education has been a large focus of our work in the House over the past two weeks, and we've also talked a fair bit about the importance of choice for parents and for students. I'll be continuing on this theme today.

Mr. Speaker, a number of my constituents in my riding have come to me with concerns about policies affecting their children, their children's ability to learn and to choose the course of their own education. The Beaufort Delta Divisional Education Council's policy says that, when a child enrols in a language class, for example, to learn Gwich'in...

Mr. Speaker, my constituents have gone to the school and to the local DEA, and they were told that this is a BDEC policy. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister, how will the department work to address parents' concerns, as I've outlined here today?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a follow-up to my Member's statement. I have a few questions for the Minister of Education. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my Member's statement, parents feel the need to -- you know, the decision should be theirs to put their child in any language program that they'd like them to learn. I'd like to ask the Minister how has the department directed education councils and school boards on access to language classes? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in follow-up to my Member's statement, I have a few questions for the Minister of Justice. The A New Day Program is going to sunset at the end of December, and I understand that a clause in the current contract would let the department and the Tree of Peace extend the program by one year. So I would like to ask the Minister what funds are available within the department's planning budget to continue the men's program in 2017-2018? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you colleagues. To address these NWTspecific problems, we need an NWTspecific program, and, Mr. Speaker, I believe we've found that in the work of the A New Day program administered by the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre here, in Yellowknife. This pilot project was built on 10 years of research and advocacy by the Coalition Against Family Violence, and it was designed specifically based on engagement with the NWT women to help men heal and to prevent further violence.

This program has been praised by the Public Health Agency of Canada. The NWT also included it...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know we are meeting in December as Regular Members, so I'm sure we will get an update at that time. Hopefully we have some good news that this program will continue, as it is making a big difference for a lot of people and is successful, so it only makes sense to continue. So will the Minister ensure that the program continues? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

If the A New Day ends as the department plans, how long would it take for the department to reinstate the men's program following that gap in services?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize my constituent and uncle, the mayor of Aklavik and also former Chief of Aklavik for many years. Also, I'd like to recognize the mayor of Paulatuk, as well, Ray Ruben. When I first started in leadership, I sought these two leaders and learned a lot from them, and I'd just like to thank them for that. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I must paint a dark picture for you and for my colleagues. We are often told that Canada's northern territories have the highest rates of domestic and family violence; the second-highest in the country. We also know that in violent relationships, women are most likely to experience the most severe forms of spousal assault and three times more likely than men to report being sexually assaulted, beaten, choked, or threatened with a gun or knife. Women are also more likely to experience chronic domestic violence over multiple incidents and to be physically injured...