Mr. Speaker, on November 30, 2007, I announced the launch of the Department of Transportation’s safety awareness program, Drive Alive! This new program is intended to enhance ongoing safety awareness efforts to significantly reduce the number of collisions, injuries and fatalities on our roads, trails and waterways.
Mr. Speaker, safety is our top priority. We are deeply saddened when we hear of tragic accidents, especially those involving our youth. Accidents must be prevented. When a snowmobile, vehicle or boating accident injures or takes the life of one of our young people, it is devastating to everyone. Unfortunately, many of these tragedies could have been prevented by encouraging residents to make safer choices when moving around the Northwest Territories.
The department will be working with its Drive Alive! partners throughout the Territory and across all modes of transport to seek every opportunity to raise transportation safety awareness.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation’s web site now has a page for young people, providing them with resources and information to help them make safer choices. This initiative is aimed to reach out to young people in every community and to help encourage a more safety-minded future generation.
To help launch this new youth page, Drive Alive! is sponsoring a writing contest open to young people in the Northwest Territories from grades 4 through 8. Each entrant will be asked to write about what they can do to keep their families safe on our highways, trails, lakes, rivers and while venturing out on the Beaufort Sea.
We will be posting the winners from each grade level on our web site and in a future publication aimed at young people. Each winner’s school will receive $300 to help their school celebrate this achievement. The contest closes on April 30, and I will announce the winners on May 30.
Mr. Speaker, additional information on the Drive Alive! writing contest can be found on the department’s web site. I trust that all Members will encourage their young constituents to enter this contest.
Our youth are our future, Mr. Speaker. We must continue to encourage them to develop safe and healthy habits to reach their full potential. Mahsi cho.
