Fate of men's healing program in Yellowknife rests on review

The Northwest Territories government is resisting a push to extend a pilot project aimed at helping men who have been violent in relationships.

The healing program, called A New Day, provides therapy for men who want to change their violent behaviour and have better relationships with their families. It's the only program of its kind in the territory that's available outside the criminal justice system. The three-year project is funded by the N.W.T. Department of Justice and that funding is scheduled to end Dec. 31.

"It should be the government's flagship program in starting to turn the corner on this crisis of family violence," said Kam Lake MLA Kieron Testart.

Rates of family violence in the N.W.T. are about nine times the national average. Earlier this year the NWT Coalition Against Family Violence lobbied the territorial government to make its decision about extending the program long before its expiration date.

A New Day provides culturally appropriate, individual and group counseling. When it was introduced by the last legislative assembly, it was touted as part of the government's response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.

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In the legislature on Thursday, Justice Minister Louis Sebert told MLAs he's not going to make a decision on the future of the program until he sees a review of it, which he expects will be completed by November.

Sebert says he appreciates concerns about any gap in service that may occur if the government decides to replace the program.

"That is a legitimate concern," said Sebert. "We could possibly extend the program — but we're very much waiting for this study on the program to determine what the next steps should be."

Testart says A New Day has served just over 400 clients during its three years in operation. But, according to a written response the government gave in July to questions about the program's future, only 10 men have completed the full 20-week program.

In that response, the government said it paid Yellowknife's Healing Drum Society $400,000 to deliver the program during its first year, until the society ran into financial troubles. After an eight-month pause, the program was taken over by the Tree of Peace, which has been paid $432,000 to deliver it since then.