Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's nice to have you back. Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, the Status of Women Council is an agency of this government and has a legislated mandate to work towards the equality of all women in the NWT. It provides advice to the GNWT, conducts research, public education, and advocacy on behalf of women. It also provides assistance to women's groups.
Through its community worker, the council has helped community groups in every constituency and almost every community. Workshops requested by communities have included board development, self-esteem, effective parenting, family violence and sexual assault, women's health issues and child sexual abuse.
In the past five years, the council has been able to access an increasing number of dollars from funding programs outside the NWT, to add to the core funding provided by this government. Last year, for each dollar of core funding, it raised an additional dollar for programs and projects to benefit women, children and families.
This does not include the additional funding obtained by community groups as a result of council assistance, including research and proposal writing. In the past five years, the council has done research, lobbying, public education and a wide range of practical initiatives in the following areas: family violence, justice, individual and community wellness, child care, education and employment, the environment and community development.
Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to advise you that the six-member Status of Women Council board was in Yellowknife last week for three intensive days of strategic planning for the next three years. It developed a vision that equality is based on healthy families and communities where women's traditional role as nurturers, advisors and teachers is respected and recognized as a valuable resource to all members of the community.
The Status of Women Council's vision recognizes the need for communities, families and women to be united and to work together. If this happens, we will have a healthy, productive northern society which respects everyone's differences.
The council will now begin developing a detailed workplan to set priorities and outline the next steps to realize its vision. This will be done through developing practical initiatives in four key areas: education and training; wellness, with a focus on prevention health and treatment; community and individual empowerment; and, women in leadership.
Some initiatives the council intends to work on include developing community-based resources, facilities and peer counsellors to support community wellness initiatives; developing economic initiatives for both the council and northern women; designing initiatives to encourage women to become leaders in business, government and politics; and, expanding on past initiatives in community wellness, family violence and sexual assault, alcohol and drugs, education on equality, child care, western NWT political development and justice.
The Status of Women Council recognizes that it can be both a resource and an ally through creative and cooperative partnerships with businesses, government, aboriginal women's and community organizations.
Mr. Speaker, I command the council, its board and staff for their hard work to date, and I encourage this Assembly's support for their vision and for their initiatives in the coming year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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