Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I would like to talk about the partners for youth program for the city of Edmonton. The Standing Committee on Finance met this morning from 10:30 until 12:00 and put on an information seminar. We were very fortunate to have a Ms. Maria David-Evans from the city of Edmonton who has been working on the partners for youth program in Edmonton.
Members of the Standing Committee on Finance have been talking about this type of program for the last year. I think we found the information seminar very useful. I know the Members of the committee were very pleased with the turn-out of Ministers and deputy ministers. Mr. Nerysoo was there, the Premier was there, Mr. Kakfwi was there, Minister Mike, senior representatives from the RCMP, senior deputy ministers from Justice, Social Services, Health, and a number of MLAs.
If I could very briefly, Madam Speaker, explain the philosophy of the program. It's a school-based, single entry social service program which has met with great success in San Diego and other places in the United States, and has been quite successful in Edmonton. The basic philosophies of this particular service for children and families are: that it be prevention and early intervention-oriented; it will be based on an integrated and holistic service delivery network; involve children and families in determining desired incomes; will facilitate more self-reliance and accountability of families, for their health and well-being, basic needs and the safety and security of their children; provide communities with the flexibility to make decisions, and be more accountable for providing services in keeping with the overall principles established for this delivery system; and ensure that there is a congruency of service and funding, goals, objectives and standards across provincial, municipal and various boards. The major focus is on outcomes. All of this, I think, is very relevant to the Northwest Territories.
Ms. David-Evans made it very clear that each community could have a different derivative of this particular model.
Madam Speaker, I think I'm about to run out of time. Could I seek unanimous consent, Madam Speaker, to continue my statement?