Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I rise today to speak about aboriginal health and traditional healing. Last year when the Special Committee on Health and Social Services tabled a report, one of the recommendations we made was that traditional healing methods must be recognized and funded by government and incorporated in our system of health and social services.
Madam Speaker, last week there was a press release from the Government of Ontario. The Government of Ontario recognized that traditional forms of aboriginal medicine are legitimate and will be recognized in Ontario under a new health policy. The new policy endorses the use of traditional healers, medicine people, midwives and elders in the medical system where they will serve native people. In addition, the government has pledged that those practising traditional native medicine will be recognized, respected and protected from government regulation.
The Ontario Minister of Health, Ruth Grier, also stated that, "For too long, we have not listened to the voices of the First Nations, nor have we honoured their medicine." She also goes on to say, "We support health care, designed, developed and delivered by aboriginal people, in keeping with their goals and our government's commitment to their right to self-determination."
Madam Speaker, this is good news for aboriginal people in the province of Ontario and, I hope, a model for other provinces and for this territory to consider. We should take the type of action being taken in Ontario to heart and also to practice that in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi cho.
---Applause