As its first priority, the 14th Legislative Assembly identified the need for our government to work with individuals, families and communities to improve the social well-being of Northwest Territories residents. The spending measures contained in this budget reflect our strategies to achieve this priority. This budget allocates $454 million, or 60 per cent of our total expenditures, to key social programs -- health, education, social services, justice and housing. Despite fiscal constraints, we will maintain service levels. For example, in this budget, we propose to:
- • Increase funding by more than $5 million to allow the Department of Health and Social Services to respond to the growing needs of our population for health care and, in part, to continue to address the ongoing health needs of our seniors population;
- • Allocate an additional $3 million to allow the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to respond to projected growth in school enrolment and income assistance demands.
We have begun to make those strategic investments which we feel will pay large dividends in the future. Improving the social well-being of Northwest Territories residents begins with our youngest residents, Mr. Speaker. In many ways, the future of the Northwest Territories will depend on the measures we take today to improve and ensure the wellness of our youngest children. This is where investment will yield the greatest returns.
In recent years, we have reduced the rates of communicable diseases in children. Infant mortality and low birth weight rates have been reduced, and our children are staying in school longer.
Despite these successes, we still face many major challenges. For example, we continue to see unacceptable rates of alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy. Our children are admitted to family violence shelters at four times the national rate. Our teen birth rate is three times the national average. If we believe our children are our future, we must do a better job of addressing these issues, not just at a government level but together at a community, family and individual level.
There is overwhelming research evidence that the years between birth and six years of age are key to future success. Investment in early childhood development pays off by reducing the likelihood that people will develop difficulties later in life. Over time, this reduces costs in the health care system, in the justice system, and in a variety of social services.
Under a federal-provincial-territorial agreement, the GNWT reinvests savings from the National Child Benefit in programs targeted at children. In 2000-2001, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment will invest an additional $210,000 under the Healthy Children Initiative, which enables children to start life as healthy as possible and to enhance their potential for full development. Through the Healthy Children Initiative, community groups can design and deliver integrated programs and services for children up to six years old.
We must, however, do more than this. I am pleased to announce that the Departments of Education, Culture and Employment and Health and Social Services will work on the development and implementation of a territorial agenda for children and youth. The first component of the agenda is an initiative in early childhood development, reflecting the fact that it is in the early years that the greatest impact can be made.
We have identified four key areas for investment under the agenda:
- • Support for parents and families;
- • Programs for expectant and new mothers;
- • Early childhood care; and
- • Literacy programs.
As a sign of our commitment, later during this Session, the Honourable Jane Groenewegen, Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, will be making a statement in support of early childhood development. This will be followed by consultations and the release of an early childhood development action plan. We will use the current fiscal year for planning and consultation. I hope that this government will be in a position to implement new initiatives in each key area in next year's budget.
By investing in our youngest residents, we can ensure our children begin their school years ready to learn. From there, we must ensure that quality education and training is available to students of all ages. A well-educated population will be crucial if Northerners are to benefit from the economic opportunities available.
We will increase funding in 2000-2001 by $1.6 million for student support services and to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio. This amount will increase to $4 million next year, to $6.4 million in the following year and to $8.2 million in 2003-2004 and will bring the pupil-teacher ratio to 16 to one in 2003-2004 from its current level of 18 to one.
Financial assistance to students is a vital support to promote life-long learning and career development. This year, we are enhancing the individual benefits for students to ensure that the support available better reflects the costs of post-secondary studies. Thanks to the support of all Members of the Legislative Assembly, we have obtained approval to proceed with a redesigned Student Financial Assistance Program, one that will put more money in the hands of Northwest Territories students with a particular focus on aboriginal and long-time Northerners.
We are making these investments in our residents, but there is a great need for additional investments to ensure a healthy and educated population in the Northwest Territories. We can only make investments within our means.
The needs of territorial residents require that the Government of Canada make its contribution to the cost of social programs. Unfortunately, in spite of the improvement in the federal fiscal situation, transfers for social programs continue to be subject to federal restraint measures.
In its last two budgets, the federal government has announced a partial restoration of CHST funding. This budget has made provision for a supplementary reserve of $4.8 million, which represents the GNWT's share of the 1999 CHST Trust - one time federal funding which the provinces and territories have committed to allocate to health care. The Department of Health and Social Services will be coming forward with proposals for the use of this money, which will focus on the implementation of primary health care models.
Along with the provinces and other territories, the Government of the Northwest Territories has called for full restoration of the CHST to 1994-1995 levels, including the addition of an appropriate escalator to reflect growing costs.
The additional CHST funding provided to date will increase our revenues by about $4 million per year over the next four years. Full restoration of the CHST would provide the GNWT with a further $4 million per year. However, this is far less than the ongoing effect of the 1996 cut to the formula financing grant.