Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform Members that the Northwest Territories once again has an active association of social workers. In January of this year, a group of social workers, with support from the Department of Health and Social Services, met and developed an action plan to reactivate their association. The association is now in operation with a membership of 90 northern professionals including social workers from the Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, the association held its first meeting in Inuvik from September 22 to 24. The national president of the Canadian Association of Social Workers, Mr. John Mould, was able to attend these meetings to share his knowledge and experience with northern members. Board elections were held during the Inuvik meetings, and Ms. Nuelle Novik was elected president.
The association will be a strong voice and an advocate for social services professionals. It will embark on an educational campaign to inform the public and their colleagues about social work and the role social workers play in our communities. The association has identified three major initiatives that will be explored over the next year. These initiatives involve:
- Creating a joint territorial association, including the NWT, Yukon and Nunavut;
- Establishing membership in the Canadian Association of Social Workers; and
- Investigating the processes required to establish regulation and licensing of social workers in the north.
--Applause