I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Antoine on October 18, 1994 regarding baseline study on fetal alcohol syndrome.

The Special Committee on Health and Social Services recommended that the department undertake a clinical study to determine the number of children affected by fetal alcohol syndrome and its effects in the Deh Cho region. This recommendation was given serious consideration.

After reviewing the literature and speaking with other jurisdictions, concerns were raised about the accuracy and usefulness of such surveys. Rather than conducting a full-blown survey, it was felt that information on the problem could be collected in other ways. As a first step, the NWT bureau of statistics is working closely with the federal government in collecting information of the health of Canadian children and Canadians in general. Starting this month, the NWT bureau of statistics will be interviewing approximately 1500 NWT households to administer the national population health survey and the national longitudinal survey of children.

Results from the survey will be analyzed by the Department of Health and Social Services to determine the prevalence of various biological, social and economic risk factors in children and to monitor the impact of such risk factors, stressful life events and protective factors on the development of these children. It is expected that results from the survey will be available in the summer of 1995. This should provide useful information about fetal alcohol syndrome in the Northwest Territories.