Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, this year I would like to ask the Members of the Legislative Assembly to help launch the Small Boat Safety Awareness Program for 1998. The program is an educational initiative aimed at improving public awareness of water and boating safety. Since 1995, the Department of Transportation has managed the program's delivery in the Northwest Territories for the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard. The Northwest Territories has the highest rate of drowning fatalities per capita in Canada. Many, if not all, of these drownings are preventable and prevention is the aim of the Small Boat Safety Program.
Each spring, people from the many organizations participating in the program attend the training seminar. The number of participating organizations has grown over the years to include the Departments of Municipal and Community Affairs; National Defence; Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development; the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; the Canadian Red Cross; Sports North; NWT Canoeing Association; NWT Hunters and Trappers Association; NWT Coast Guard Auxiliary; the Yellowknife Fire Department and both Students Against Drinking and Driving groups at St. Patrick and Sir John Franklin High schools in Yellowknife.
The program enlists people in the communities to teach our young people about the importance and proper use of boating safety equipment, safe loading limits for passengers and cargo, as well as the use of a boat's power rating to match the boat and the motor properly. All our territorial schools are visited before summer begins. As the boating season progresses, meetings are held with Hunters and Trappers Associations, yacht clubs and the general public. Last year, the Small Boat Safety Program reached 20,000 people in 44 communities across the Northwest Territories.
The target audience for 1998 will again be our children. Most boating fatalities are alcohol related and involve young men between 16 and 35 years of age. The program directs its message at young people, so that as they grow up and before they reach the critical age group, safe boating is already part of their thinking.
You will remember PUKTA, the Water Safety Bear, from last year's program launch. The Canadian Coast Guard has adopted PUKTA as its mascot and PUKTA now appears regularly across Canada promoting water safety. Several Members of the Assembly made public service announcements that were broadcast through the boating season on TVNC and CBC North with great success. This year, there are already a variety of public service announcements related to water safety playing on television.
I am pleased to invite you to take part in the launching of the 1998 Program in the Great Hall during this afternoon's break. The presentation is centred on the viewing of some public service videos on water safety.
Mr. Speaker, the growing interest of communities in taking a greater part in the Small Boat Safety Awareness Program indicates its success. As the season progresses, you will see more and more communities taking the lead in encouraging water and boating safety in their areas. I know that Members are with me in hoping that the Small Boat Safety Awareness Program contributes to a safe, accident-free boating season this year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause