Debates of May 19, 2011 (day 11)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to provide an update to the Legislative Assembly on Not Us!, the Government of the Northwest Territories anti-drug campaign.

Not Us! is a part of the Healthy Choices Framework, a Government of the Northwest Territories-wide approach that encourages and supports Northwest Territories residents to make healthy and safe choices. It is consistent with the 16th Assembly’s goal of fostering healthy, educated people and part of the Government of the Northwest Territories Building Our Future Strategic Initiative. Healthy Choices activities concentrate on positive, upstream, preventative approaches.

The effects of addictions on individuals, families and communities are devastating. The Not Us! initiative provides funding to communities to enable them to design and implement customized, grassroots anti-drug campaigns that work for them.

We are now in the third year of this initiative and I am pleased to report that we have seen tremendous success. The communities of Hay River, Inuvik, Ndilo and Dettah created innovative and powerful local campaigns during this past year. Those projects provided inspiration for other communities who are now creating their own Not Us! campaigns, including Fort Liard, Behchoko, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic and Yellowknife. Last month a Fort Smith interagency partnership of 11 organizations who envision a drug-free healthy town received Not Us! funds to begin a series of drug-free initiatives.

The Not Us! success stories were featured at a Healthy Choices wellness fair earlier today in the Great Hall of our Legislative Assembly.

Not Us! is about focusing on the positive in our communities and on where we want to be in the future. Through these initiatives, the 16th Legislative Assembly is supporting communities to develop a campaign to prevent and combat the use and sale of illegal drugs in a way that works for them, paving the way for a brighter, more prosperous future ahead. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.