 | E-mail this story |  | Write letter to editor |  | Order a classified ad |
| E-mail this story | | Write letter to editor | | Order a classified ad |
Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services
Nutarak, the MLA for Pond Inlet, expressed concern last week about the territory's women's shelters during the session.
His most controversial remark was that some women who stay in shelters end up drinking and having extra-marital affairs.
He said he is worried about children who, he said, are often left behind with grandparents and other relatives.
"It made me realize that we have to find the resources to provide more information about what we do," said Trish Hughes-Wieczorek, executive director of Iqaluit's Qimaavik transition house, which is run by the Baffin Regional Agvvik Society.
"Clearly Mr. Nutarak is misinformed. And if (a politician) is misinformed, then the average person probably knows even less about what we do."
Hughes-Wieczorek said women who stay in the transition shelter are literally running for their lives. She added the centre has a strict no drugs and alcohol policy and allows children to stay at the centre, although some children and teenagers choose not to.
After Nutarak made his comments to the legislative assembly, Qimaavik staff invited him to visit.
According to Mr. Nutarak, who has never been inside a women's shelter, he did not have time to go. Nutarak said the comments he made were written by his constituency assistant who had a problem with his wife or girlfriend.
But he said he believes the concerns are valid. "It has to be true because it was put in the statement. People don't usually put lies in stuff like that," he said.
Nutarak added that women's shelters are necessary, but he said both men and women need access to help -- not just women.
"When men call, they automatically say you can't talk to the woman because you are a man," he said. "The point I'm trying to make is that both men and women need to get help because they hurt in the same way."
Qimaavik counsellor Meeka Kilabuk said a woman's life is in the most danger when she leaves a violent relationship.
In serious cases, women are killed at this stage. Because of this, shelter staff don't tell callers who is staying at the shelter. Instead, they take messages, which they pass on to women.
She said the shelter is a safe place for women to go, not a counselling centre for both men and women.
"Women are here because they are a victim of a crime. They don't come here because they feel like hanging out at a shelter. It doesn't work like that."
Kilabuk said women who come to the transition house have usually tried other options, including talking to elders. "Where we come in is when those efforts have been made and none of them work," she said.
Hughes-Wieczorek said many abusers have their own history of pain, loss and trauma.
"But abusers make the choice to lash out at those who are closest to them ... I get the feeling he thinks the two parties are equal and I think he is misinformed. A crime has been committed."
Qimaavik is the only transition (longer-stay) house in Nunavut. Six other crisis and counselling centres exist in the territory. Hughes-Wieczorek said funding for shelters has not increased for 10 years.
Qimaavik receives $460,000 a year from the government.
Health Minister Ed Picco said the department is conducting a major review of its mental health strategy, one that includes family violence programs. As for Nutarak's comments, Picco called them "absurd."
"I've heard that in the past and it doesn't warrant further comment," he said.
