Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement, I talked about the Cancer Strategy for Department of Health and Social Services. I have questions for the Minister. I would like to ask firstly, Minister, were there action plans put in the Cancer Strategy, action items that will be done this fiscal year? Thank you.
Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Cancer Strategy actually does come with a number of items that are falling from the strategy itself. The strategy includes specific supports to help communities, help individuals, make healthy choices by focusing on healthy eating through gardening and education, continuing to hold sharing circles, which we have seen has been quite effective in helping people deal with the issues. We do have funding that we have provided to different communities to support tobacco prevention for youth. The strategy commits us to find ways to increase education awareness so people can take advantage of cancer screening at the end of the day. Mr. Speaker, it is going to be incredibly important for people to attend the Well Man and Well Woman clinics to get early diagnosis. Early diagnosis is going to give us better results. There are a number of things that are direct actions that are available to communities and regions to help us fight and prevent cancer as much as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, within those action plans, I would like to ask the Minister: which particular preventive measures does the department see as a priority within the Cancer Strategy?
Mr. Speaker, the evidence shows that one of the best ways to combat cancer is to prevent cancer, which is why we are focusing on healthy eating initiatives and encouraging people to get their exercise. We are doing this in partnership with a number of different groups. There is fantastic work being done by sports and recreation, Sport North, the Department of MACA, to encourage people to be active. ITI is doing a number of fantastic things with respect to supporting agriculture as an economy, but also supporting small local gardens. We have had a number of individuals apply for money through the anti-poverty funding to support community gardens. We are trying to encourage people to eat healthy, be active, and live healthy. But also, we are encouraging people to get early screening. We are working with communities on finding ways to encourage people. What is it going to take to encourage people to attend the Well Woman and Well Man on a regular basis in order to get that screening done early?
I would like to ask the Minister if he can direct the department to do some specific work with the community of Fort Resolution in developing an action plan to augment the Cancer Strategy.
Mr. Speaker, I hear the Member. I think it is important for us to be in partnership with Fort Resolution, but I wouldn't suggest that we should be developing the action plan. I think it would be better if we work with the community through their community wellness plans, work with them to develop a strategy that works for them. We could develop a strategy, but I would hate to impose it on any community. I would like to sit down with the Member and maybe the representatives from the community and talk about how we can work through the community wellness plans and build upon the important work or good work that has been done in other jurisdictions. By way of example, Fort Good Hope has done some incredible work around sharing circles and cancer circles that the community of Fort Resolution could seriously learn from. A real opportunity to build upon the good work that has been done, but also tailor something specific to a community. I won't commit to developing the strategy or an action plan, but I sure would like to sit down with the community and see what opportunities we have to work together to support them in the development of a plan that meets their needs.
Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am happy with that response. Can the Minister provide me a timeframe as to when the department can start working with the community? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I do believe the community and the department already work together through the Aboriginal health and community wellness division on their wellness plan. We do have a significant amount of people working on the Cancer Strategy. What I will do, Mr. Speaker, is I will ask the Member through you to maybe work with the community to get in touch with us and have a conversation. I couldn't tell you the timeline because we have never been contacted to this degree in this nature. I think there is an opportunity here. I would say let's work together. If the Member can put us in touch, we can start having discussions, work out a timeline together. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
