Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [Translation] Today I would like to talk about…] [Translation ends] My Member’s statement is on early childhood development. Mr. Speaker, promoting healthy pregnancy, birth and infancy is an important component of early childhood development. This means dealing with the challenges related to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, or FASD, is a term used for a range of incurable cognitive and physical disabilities that a baby is born with as a result of a woman consuming alcohol during pregnancy. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is the leading known cause of developmental disabilities in Canada.
At least one in every 100 Canadians, or more than 380,000 people, currently live with this devastating 100 per cent preventable disability. The federal government and the provincial and territorial governments collective spend an estimated $4 billion per year on programs to support those affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
Mr. Speaker, I once attended a conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and at that conference the presenters were talking about the importance of investment in prevention, and working with mothers at risk. Researchers tell us that for every $150,000 spent on the prevention of FASD we would save $1.5 million in costs to manage the impacts of FASD. If we prevent just one case of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder we will save $800,000 to $1.4 million. More than that, we will prevent the damaging effects of someone living with FASD.
Mr. Speaker, although there is no cure for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, early interventions can help a lot of kids. I have spoken to educators who agree that if a kindergarten student comes to school with all of the opportunities that should be afforded to them -- Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Should be afforded to them through early childhood development. They will have a much better chance of graduating and becoming contributing members of our society. Mr. Speaker, it is clear, we should be viewing early childhood development as an investment in our children and their future. If we view this as an investment, it would be easily the highest yielding investment we could make.
Mr. Speaker, early childhood development is the responsibility of two departments, Health and Social Services and Education, Culture and Employment. Later today, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
