Mr. Speaker, healthy, educated people are a priority for this Assembly and our government continues to investigate ways to support our children’s development and give them the right start in life.
We have many strategies across the GNWT that work together to provide supports for northern children, families, residents and communities. One of these is Building on the Strengths of Northerners: A Strategic Framework toward the Elimination of Poverty in the NWT. This framework addresses five priority areas: children and families, healthy living, safe and affordable housing, sustainable communities and better integration of services.
I am extremely pleased to announce that with funding provided in support of the Anti-Poverty Strategy, we have identified $650,000 to contribute to a new Healthy Food for Schools Program. With assistance from the NWT Bureau of Statistics, we have established the formula for distribution, taking into account food cost indexes, school student populations and median incomes of communities.
Mr. Speaker, research clearly shows that children who eat nutritious food are more physically active, alert and attentive. These children have better school attendance and are more successful at school.
The Health and Health-related Behaviours among Young People in the NWT report from 2012 identified that many of children and youth in the NWT often go to bed hungry because there is not enough food at home.
Providing healthy food through universal programs is one of the best ways to reach those who need it the most. These funds will allow schools to build on existing programs and potentially expand them to increase the number of serving days and increase the age range of students they support.
In addition to the Food for Schools funding, the Anti-Poverty Strategy is also providing $150,000 for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs’ Active After School Program. This funding will be used to provide healthy snacks for children and youth participating in MACA’s after-school programs.
Funding for these important initiatives will help support children and youth to access healthy and nutritious food in both school and in after-school settings.
Research and best practices show that partnerships are the way to build the strongest school meal programs. Our government continues to do its part and we encourage schools to continue to use existing partnerships and seek new partners, where possible.
Mr. Speaker, we are on the right track. With every investment our government makes in children’s health, well-being and development, and in families’ ability to ensure their children can access opportunities for healthy growth and learning, our collective future becomes brighter. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.
