français
May 31, 2004
THE HONOURABLE CHARLES DENT
IMPLEMENTING THE PROTECTION AGAINST FAMILY
VIOLENCE ACT
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to provide an update to
Members of the Legislative Assembly on the Department of
Justice’s work to implement the Protection Against Family
Violence Act.
This Act, passed during the 14th Legislative Assembly, provides
for 24-hour access to emergency protection orders when there is
an act, or threat of family violence. It also provides victims
of family violence with long-term protection orders. Anyone who
has lived, or is living, in a family or intimate relationship
with the accused will be able to apply for protection under this
Act. For example, this could include a spouse, former spouse,
parent, grandparent or someone who has had a child with the
offender.
I am committed to making the protections under this Act
available as quickly as possible and plan to have the Act in
force in early 2005. The Department of Justice is in the final
stage of hiring a coordinator who will be dedicated to
implementing this act. The coordinator will work with an
advisory committee formed by the department to assist with the
implementation. This committee includes the RCMP, YWCA, the
Department of Health and Social Services, the Native Women’s
Association and the Yellowknife Health and Social Services
Authority.
Over the next six months, the Department of Justice will develop
training material and assist in training members of the RCMP,
justices of the peace, courts staff and other frontline service
providers. The Department of Justice will also provide public
education material and develop a system for monitoring and
evaluating the Protection Against Family Violence Act.
This is an important piece of legislation that the Department of
Justice wants to implement as quickly as possible. However, it
must be done properly so that a system is in place to ensure
these protections are available to all residents. This work is
underway and I look forward to a timely and effective
implementation of the Protection Against Family Violence Act.
Click here to view
Protection Against Family Violence Act -
Bill 21 in PDF format
For more information, please contact:
Rebecca Latour
Family Violence Legislation Implementation Coordinator
Policy and Planning
Department of Justice
Government of the Northwest Territories
Box 1320
Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Phone: (867) 920-3288
Fax: (867) 873-0659
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