Debates of November 2, 2022 (day 131)

Date
November
2
2022
Session
19th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
131
Members Present
Hon. Diane Archie, Mr. Bonnetrouge, Hon. Paulie Chinna, Ms. Cleveland, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Mr. Edjericon, Hon. Julie Green, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Martselos, Ms. Nokleby, Ms. Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Rocky Simpson, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Ms. Weyallon-Armstrong.
Topics
Statements

Committee Motion 337-19(2): Add a Youth Priority Area to the Workplan, Carried

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services, in collaboration with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, add an eighth priority area to the addictions, prevention, and recovery work plan focusing on people aged 29 and under. This priority area should include clear commitments and performance measures to increase access and uptake in counselling and healing supports and increase youth participation in sports and recreation, including measures to improve access to facilities and programming. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi. Ms. Nokleby.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think this very nicely lines up with the motions that we moved here on the floor on Monday around suicide prevention and the supports for youth. It has been proven that young people that are involved in physical activity or have a sense of feeling like they belong somewhere are going to be more less likely to become addicts and/or have thoughts of suicide. I think that this motion clearly shows how our issues cover multiple departments, I think, within our government, and we often spoke about the breaking down of silos. So I strongly support this motion and hope that the government is listening, that we need to divert our youth from this stream instead of trying to save them later. Thank you.

The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Simpson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, you know, I support this motion, and I guess it would have been nice if it was expanded to the arts as well because not all you know, not all youth are it's just not sports. It's arts. Like, for instance, you know, recently I talked about the Kole Crook Fiddle Association and the good work they do in the communities. And so we have to make sure that, you know, the programs we have out there fit everybody, and not everybody's into sports, not everybody's into arts. So we just got to make sure that, you know, we look at, you know, all facets of that and ensure that the funding is there to support it. And also encourage, you know, parents and family members to encourage their, you know, their children or their peers to become involved as well. Thank you.

Mahsi. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion is carried.

Carried

Mr. Johnson.