Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take the opportunity today as the lead Minister of the Building Our Future Strategic Initiative Committee to provide an update on the planned actions of this committee.
As you know, the Building Our Future initiative is one of five strategic initiatives that form the backbone of our government’s strategic approach. This initiative focuses on our future by making significant investments in prevention and long-term social well-being of the population of the Northwest Territories. These investments build on our significant base of programs and services that support the well-being of our residents.
The six actions planned under these initiatives are to expand programming for our children and youth, encourage healthy choices and address addictions, implement phase 2 of the Framework for Action on Family Violence, strengthen continuum of care for seniors, enhance support for the voluntary sector and increase safety and security. These actions will contribute to several goals identified by Members of the 16th Assembly but will focus on specific goals of healthy, educated people and sustainable, vibrant, safe communities.
Expanding programming for children and youth is a key part of this initiative. Under this action we will invest in early childhood development programs to ensure that children get a healthy start in culturally relevant programs and get ready for the transition to school years. The $1 million investment included in the 2008–09 budget builds on our investment in early childhood development to more than $6 million annually.
We will also build on the success of last year’s pilot project to establish a funding program to operate youth centres, and we’ll continue to support youth programs. We intend to re-profile funding to add $150,000 to youth contribution funding in 2008–09 and to fund two regional youth adviser positions to work with schools, community governments, the Sport and Recreation Council and other stakeholders.
Our plans also include enhancing the Teacher Education Program to allow for community-based delivery throughout all regions in the Northwest Territories. This builds on the recently piloted Teacher Education Access Program in the Tlicho region.
As part of our Building Our Future Strategic Initiative we`ll also support the expansion of respite services, which will provide an essential break to parents and caregivers of special-needs children. Currently these services are available in Yellowknife, N’dilo and Dettah through an open referral process. This activity identifies the investments that will support these services beyond Yellowknife.
To encourage healthy choices and address addictions, the government will carry out health promotion and prevention activities through the Healthy Choices Framework. This framework involves a five-year plan to develop and deliver coordinated programs, interventions and public messaging on physical activity, healthy eating, mental health, addictions, tobacco harm reduction and cessation, injury prevention and high-risk sexual behaviours.
We also plan to focus on after-care services for individuals being treated for alcohol and drug addiction. Continued development and delivery of culturally appropriate treatment options will be an important element of this work. Our investments in this area will build on the more than $20 million our government spends each year for promotion, awareness and treatment services related to mental health and addictions.
Developing the Framework for Action on Family Violence, phase 2, is an important collaboration between the non-government organizations and the government. The Building Our Future Strategic Initiative includes implementing actions from this framework which will enhance community services and stabilize the existing system of shelters. The demand for home and community care is growing due to aging populations, continued movement from facility-based to home- and community-based care, and continued changes in the approach to hospital care, such as the increased outpatient procedures and earlier discharges.
The Strengthen the Continuum of Care for Seniors action includes expanding community and home care services throughout the Territories and developing the training capacity to meet the increased demand for these services. The income threshold for the seniors home heating subsidy will be increased for 2008–2009, which will further support seniors living independently. Other investments planned for this area will support operations of the new territorial dementia facility and the territorial supported-living campus.
The government is committed to supporting the volunteer sector. There are many parts to this sector, including people who volunteer, for example, as coaches, fundraisers and firefighters; those who serve on boards as volunteers and oversee the operation of a society; and those who work with NGOs that provide services in our communities on behalf of the government. Given this range, it makes sense that there need to be many points within the government that work to support this sector. The existing Volunteer Support Initiative sets the stage for further collaboration amongst the departments. In addition to working closely with many support and volunteer organizations, MACA programs support training for all volunteer organizations, and recognize the efforts of volunteers in all sectors of society.
The Financial Management Board Secretariat leads work on a funding framework; and Health and Social Services; Education, Culture and Employment; and Justice fund and support a wide range of NGOs that provide direct services or advocacy. The 2008–2009 budget started a process to strengthen our communities to this sector, and we are working on a new NGO funding policy. Actions under phase 2 of the Framework for Action on Family Violence, started in 2008–2009, provide targeted support for this important sector. We are working on approaches to better promote and support our volunteers.
While these provide a good start, the Building Our Future Strategic Initiative Committee will be working on further actions in this area, and we have identified funding to hold a forum with volunteer organizations in 2008–2009 to discuss further actions.
Finally, we will take steps as part of the strategic initiative to increase safety and security in our communities. Investments planned under this action include enhancing police services and taking steps to reduce alcohol- and drug-related crime. We’ll be making funding available to address the pressures felt by communities which are providing ambulance and highway rescue programs while we continue to develop a legislative and service delivery model. We recognize that more work is needed as part of this action to address the chronic offenders and enhance emergency services in our communities. These areas will need our attention as we develop further investments as part of the strategic initiative.
The Building Our Future Strategic Initiative Committee faces the challenge of developing actions in an area that has many demands and priorities, all of which are critically important. We need to ensure our actions are guided by an overarching framework for change that helps us achieve our vision of “strong individuals, families and communities sharing the benefits and responsibilities of a unified, environmentally sustainable and prosperous Northwest Territories.”
I look forward to continuing to work together with Members and my fellow Cabinet colleagues as we continue to work to build our future.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources.
