Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last May, I advised you that the Status of Women Council holds a vision that womens' equality can be achieved through developing healthy families and communities -- where womens' roles as nurturers, healers, leaders, advisors and teachers is respected and honoured.
The council's vision is in keeping with both this government's community wellness and community empowerment strategies.
The council has advised me that women are very concerned about the social issues that are seriously affecting our communities-suicide, depression, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, child neglect and sexual abuse, family violence and sexual assault. I share their concern.
The council believes that its expertise in community development and wellness is a tool that can be used to foster and support community wellness and empowerment initiatives and economic development.
Full scale economic development and job creation will not bring benefits to the north unless we have a healthy, educated labour force.
Looking ahead to division and beyond, we need to develop our young people so they are capable of taking on leadership in the future. But this will not happen if too many of our children and their children are incapacitated or ruined by the effects of alcohol, drugs, child abuse and violence.
The Status of Women met last week with officials from MACA and Health and Social Services to begin exploring ways the council's expertise could be used to assist in the implementation of community empowerment and community wellness strategies.
Mr. Speaker, I commend the council on its efforts to support the development of strong, healthy families and communities. I urge this Legislature's support for the valuable contribution the council can make to community wellness and empowerment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause