Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, this statement is a short progress report on the community wellness strategy. In the summer of 1995, an intensive round of consultation resulted in a directions document for community wellness. Following this, a series of regional and community meetings were held to develop plans for the implementation of the strategy across the Territories.
In conjunction with these meetings, a community action fund of $2.9 million was established. The fund allowed community groups to pilot a variety of initiatives. These initiatives were aimed at preparing communities to take on more responsibility for wellness programs and services.
I am pleased to say that interest in this initiative has been unprecedented. More and more communities are developing their own plans for implementing wellness initiatives for their residents. As you know, this government recognizes community wellness as a top priority.
As a result, I have been asked to finalize a framework that will allow communities to take on responsibility for the full range of wellness programs and services currently managed by our government. This framework will be complete by June 1996, and will empower communities to accept the transfer of resources by the beginning of the new fiscal year in 1997-98.
Mr. Speaker, this is more than simply a transfer of government programs and services. We all recognize that we cannot afford our current way of doing business. As well, communities have told us that the government's methods of delivering services are not always in keeping with the traditions and priorities of our residents. The most consistent feedback we have received is that the proliferation of government departments, boards and agencies in communities has been a source of frustration.
The framework will allow communities to accept responsibility for community wellness programs as part of a larger community empowerment initiative of this government. When it is complete, communities can be provided with block funding to deliver many of the programs and services that are currently delivered by government departments and agencies within the social envelope.
The funding arrangements will provide flexibility, allowing communities to develop their own priorities for service delivery. Ideally, the funding for government programs and services would be managed through a single organization at the community level, possibly the local governing body. This will promote consistency and ensure that services are linked and complementary to each other.
Standards for many of the wellness programs and services will need to be fairly general, Mr. Speaker, to give communities flexibility for their own unique solutions. However, some of the services are guided by legislation and communities will have to recognize these statutory limitations on their spending. The requirements of the Canada Health Act and the Education Act are two examples of areas where territory-wide standards will have to be met.
However, we are confident that, even in these areas, there is room for much more flexibility through block funding arrangements. More details will be made available as departmental business plans are finalized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause