Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to provide Members with an update on federal community-based wellness funding for 1996-97.
The changes I am announcing today will result in more effective use of this federal funding, and the beneficiaries will be the people of the Northwest Territories. Health Canada provides funding for community wellness projects through a number of initiatives.
Although communities need this funding, the variety of different programs, delivery agents and reporting mechanisms have been confusing for people to understand and cumbersome to administer.
Two of the biggest initiatives are brighter futures and building healthy communities. These programs both provide funding for community-based wellness projects for First Nation and Inuit people.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce today that Health Canada has agreed to consolidate brighter futures and building healthy communities and has transferred administration of this consolidated funding to the Department of Health and Social Services.
For communities, this will mean fewer reporting and administrative requirements, In the past, there were two sets of criteria and a requirement for two sets of proposals and two sets of reports. Now only one will be necessary. Mr. Speaker, this initiative will provide over $5.3 million for the people of the Northwest Territories to carry out wellness projects in their own communities this year and the consolidation ensures that more of the funds will be used for direct benefits.
Health Canada has agreed to a three-year agreement. The full amount of the funds will be available to communities. They must choose to coordinate the work they do regionally or locally, but the GNWT will not absorb any of the funds transferred from Health Canada under this agreement.
This funding is an important resource for communities as they develop their own wellness plans. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my appreciation to my federal colleague, the Honourable David Dingwall, and to his staff, for their support and help in this process.
The Department of Health and Social Services will continue to work to eliminate overlap and duplication and to encourage partnership and collaboration between the federal and territorial governments, aboriginal groups and organizations and our communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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