Debates of June 7, 2006 (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Minister Dent. I’d like to ask Minister Dent is he putting some plan together in terms of banning the junk food in all our schools in the Northwest Territories as outlined, put the junk in the trunk as my friends say and get some action in our schools here? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 73-15(5): Healthy Food In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. More than a year ago I discussed with the chairs of the DECs the need for us to ensure that healthy snacks were available for children in all of our schools and all of the DECs have agreed that they’re moving towards this. I think most of them in the Territories have already moved to ensure that healthy snacks are in vending machines. I will follow up with the DECs and find out just what the state of compliance is with that direction.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 73-15(5): Healthy Food In NWT Schools

Thank you. I look forward to that report from the Minister in terms of which schools. Now, can the Minister, again, can he outline some form of action plan of some of the schools who decided not to follow this route? What type of leadership can he provide to his department to get healthy food, get them into vending machines and put the junk in the trunk? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 73-15(5): Healthy Food In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know from my discussions with the chairs of the divisional education councils that there’s a broad acceptance that we need to be moving this way. So I’m certainly of the opinion that the leaders in the educational councils will set the standards in their regions and make sure that they are moving to have healthy foods in all of the vending machines across the North. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 73-15(5): Healthy Food In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister look at providing some directive, some initiative to all the DEAs in the Territories to come up with some draft policies to have healthy foods, healthy snacks in their schools? Take out the junk food from the school and provide direction, let his department, this government, provide some leadership. They’ve provided strong leadership in the past on some other initiatives this government has done. I suggest continuing with that leadership. Would the Minister provide a time frame or something that the communities can report to saying by a certain date we’re going to have all healthy foods in this school? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 73-15(5): Healthy Food In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I trust that I'm not going to have to provide a directive to enforce that happening. I believe that those who are elected to our divisional educational councils are themselves leaders and understand the importance of healthy food and do want to get junk in the trunk. I will work with the divisional education council leaders and if we don't see that movement happening, I may reconsider my position by next fall. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 73-15(5): Healthy Food In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward again to Minister Dent's position in the fall time in terms of the leadership. Can the Minister, then, look at different avenues in terms of encouraging, motivating these schools to provide healthy foods in the schools, working with the different northern food stores and different community organizations to get healthy foods and take the junk out, keep it in the trunk once and for all? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 73-15(5): Healthy Food In NWT Schools

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, I'd be happy to make sure that we're discussing with our partners that initiative or those sorts of initiatives. I know from my discussions with them already that they are already well aware of the importance of following through on this. So I trust that they will all move to ensure that we're seeing healthy foods in schools and physically active kids. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.