Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am very pleased to rise today to talk about an issue that is important to each of us in this Assembly. That issue is drowning prevention.
We all know people in our communities whose lives are lost needlessly due to drowning. It is a needless waste of human life and potential. It is a devastating loss for our communities, people and families.
Between 1998 and 2008, an average of seven people annually drowned in the Northwest Territories. Eighty-four percent of the drownings were male and alcohol played a factor one-third of the time. Failure to wear a lifejacket was the major reason people drown. I am pleased to say that since 2008 the numbers have greatly improved, and last year there were no drownings at all. I believe it’s primarily due to an increase in the number of people who are wearing lifejackets instead of leaving them at home or on the floor of the boats.
The effort to persuade people to wear lifejackets takes many forms. This afternoon I had the privilege of having lunch with one of my constituents, a young lady from Trout Lake named Katrina Deneron, who entered and won a poster contest to promote the use of lifejackets. I will have the opportunity to introduce this young lady at the appropriate time and we will have a ceremony at the break to honour her.
In the meantime, I want to say that when the young people take the lead on this important issue, we need to pay attention, Madam Speaker. Mahsi cho.
Thank you to the Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.
