Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak today about the community wellness strategy, these are new initiatives that are being carried out in many communities across the Northwest Territories. And I believe that they are getting good reactions within the communities. But to make this strategy work, Mr. Speaker, we need the full cooperation from all agencies and all government departments and we must involve the aboriginal organizations.

In this time of scarce dollars and tight budgets, social agencies are overworked. We need to provide them with proper assistance to be able to implement proper programs and continue providing the services they do provide in the communities. Our communities have smart, knowledgeable, and resourceful people and they need to work together to get the best bang for our buck.

Government agencies, organizations and departments cannot continue to work in isolation of each other. Communities need to mobilize all their forces to make this strategy work. We also need to provide resources to train more facilitators and coaches. We cannot rely on one or two people in a community to carry the ball. We have to develop our pools of local talent.

Mr. Speaker, we have a strategy here that can work. It is working in some communities and it is up to everyone to cooperate and make it work. Mahsi cho.

---Applause