Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will speak today on a problem in our society that is one which is the highest of any other part of the country. The problem, Mr. Speaker, is fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effect, which I will refer to as FAS and FAE.
I have brought forth this concern before in this House, as has the Member for Yellowknife North. Mr. Speaker, this is one problem we cannot ignore. The cause of FAS and FAE is alcohol and it is preventable. It is not curable. Alcohol, when consumed by a pregnant mother, can have devastating and irreversible effects on the victim. In this case, the unborn child. Some research indicates that consumption of alcohol by both males and females prior to pregnancy can also contribute to this condition.
In the North, we have an extremely high rate of this condition. In some of our communities, it is estimated that the number of children affected is 25 per cent or higher. Some of these children have severe burdens to carry. There is no cure or medicine for this condition which results in many, many disorders. Some of the results may include problems with school; which, in turn, manifests itself in troubles with the law, social, sexual and mental problems, to name but a few. We have been carrying this disease in the North for too long. Something needs to be done. We have to get educated so we can prevent and manage this condition. The burden our society has with these difficulties is immense, especially with our courts and correction facilities. There have been some attempts within our schools to establish a program for a while with FAS and FAE, but the problem is so large it requires a much more sustained attack.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the Members of this House and the interested people in our communities of a conference which will take place this September in Seattle, Washington, which is sponsored by the fetal alcohol and drug unit of the University of Washington, with support from the disabilities prevention program of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States public health service.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.