Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, later today I will be tabling Community Wellness in Action: 1997-98. Community Wellness in Action is published annually by the Department of Health and Social Services based on reports received from the communities. The report summarizes community wellness activities that took place at the community and regional level during the last fiscal year. This is the third year that the Department of Health and Social Services has produced this report.
The activities reported in Community Wellness in Action reflect priorities set by the communities themselves. In 1997-98, communities identified mental health and child development as priority areas. Many projects in the report were planned and delivered by community organizations and agencies to address those areas.
Community wellness funding in the Northwest Territories comes from a variety of sources. This year's report includes information on activities that were funded through a number of different programs including:
- Brighter Futures;
- the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program;
- the Healthy Children Initiative;
- Aboriginal Head Start Initiative;
- AIDS Community Action Program; and
- the Community Action Program for Children
In 1997-98, these programs saw over $6.3 million invested in community wellness initiatives in the western NWT alone. While much of this funding originates from Health Canada, the success of our Community Wellness Initiatives depends on the work of many partners. These include:
- Health Canada;
- the Department of Education, Culture and Employment;
- regional and community health and social services boards;
- tribal, hamlet and band councils;
- community groups and non-government organizations; and
- the Department of Health and Social Services
Mr. Speaker, being healthy is about more than whether or not you are sick. You cannot measure health by just looking at the rates of illness in a community or region. You cannot tell how healthy people are only by looking at the kinds of treatment services available to them.
Being healthy means being able to prevent sickness and avoid the need for treatment. People and communities need to be able to address the root causes of individual and social illness. In 1986 the World Health Organization expanded its definition of health to include, "the ability to identify and realize aspirations, to satisfy needs and to change or cope with a changing environment." We can help Northerners become truly healthy by building their capacity to maintain wellness at the community and individual level.
Community wellness funding in the Northwest Territories builds capacity and helps individuals and communities develop their own wellness resources. Promoting health and preventing illness is an important goal for the Department of Health and Social Services. The Community Wellness Initiatives carried out across the North help us work toward that goal. Mr. Speaker, I would encourage all Members to review the report and support the Community Wellness Initiatives underway in their communities. Thank you.
--Applause