Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two new returns to oral questions, firstly asked by Mr. Picco on January 26, 1998 on strategy for family planning. The residents of the NWT make their own decisions about the size and timing of their families. However, the government does have a number of services which help people make their own choices about having children.
Through the schools' health curriculum, young people learn more about making choices and the responsibilities that come with those choices. The program includes developing self esteem, having the confidence to make decisions, and knowing and understanding the consequences of actions. The Department of Health and Social Services acts as a resource to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment on the health curriculum.
Through the health and social services boards, there is support in a number of ways for community residents. Family planning is part of the Well Women yearly visit in an informal way, dependent on each woman's individual needs. Formalized counselling is part of post natal care to ensure women make clear choices about when or if they want to have more children.
Individual communities and regions have had promotional campaigns about sexually transmitted disease control and family planning. The department has some promotional education materials available for residents and health and social service centres.
Some people make a very conscious decision to avoid pregnancy for a number of reasons. The community health centres have condoms, birth control pills, Depo Provera and other preventative methods available free of charge.
Having a child is a huge responsibility. It affects lifestyles, disposable income, almost every aspect of a person's life. While the government has not developed a plan to encourage a lower rate of population growth, there are a number of programs in place to make sure that, as much as possible, children are born to parents who want those children at a time in the parents' lives when they want the responsibility of the child.