Bonjour, mes amis. Good afternoon, everyone, on the first day of March. I would say it is rather "lionish" out today, so March is officially coming in like a lion. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Health, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with colleagues in this House, to speak to the issue of fetal alcohol syndrome and effect, better known as FAS and FAE.

As Members know, the use of alcohol by pregnant women can lead to a number of social and health problems. One of the more serious long-term health consequences of drinking during pregnancy is that the baby is placed at risk of developing FAS or FAE.

FAS is a medical condition and symptoms include brain damage, developmental delays, behavioural problems and learning difficulties. FAE describes the medical condition where not all of the characteristics of FAS are present in a child.

Mr. Speaker, national estimates on the incidence of FAS and FAE are not available, nor do records currently exist for the Northwest Territories. However, we do know that here in the NWT, FAS/FAE are serious issues that require preventative action by our government and our communities. A 1993 Department of Health and Social Services survey showed that up to 25 percent of women surveyed reported drinking while they were pregnant. Since research shows there is no safe level of alcohol that can be consumed while pregnant, this means that nearly one-quarter of the babies in this survey were at higher risk of developing FAS or FAE.

The impact of FAS and FAE on victims, families and communities is devastating. The financial costs to government do not even begin to capture the suffering of affected children and their families. There are considerable challenges that FAS victims must live with for their entire lives, and it is tragic to think of the lost potential.

We believe that FAS/FAE is contributing significantly to the rising cost of health care in the Northwest Territories. A preliminary study at Stanton Hospital in 1998 confirmed that children with FAS have significantly greater use of hospital services. These children will require more health and social

care at the community level, as well as additional educational support. On average, the cost of treating and providing services to a single affected child may run as high as $65,000 a year. We are already seeing cases of adult FAS victims who require highly specialized, secure placements, which can cost well over $300,000 a year.

Mr. Speaker, in Towards A Better Tomorrow, we affirmed that priority must be given to improving the health and social well-being of Northerners. We recognized that we must invest in early childhood development and support the needs of mothers and families. These are critical steps in working to address the problem of FAS/FAE.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services has been very active in addressing this highly preventable condition. The department has been working in partnership with the Status of Women Council of the NWT and the Native Women's Association of the NWT on a public education campaign about FAS/FAE.

The FAS/FAE awareness campaign focuses on the underlying causes of why women drink. There are often complex social and psychological issues that contribute to an addiction that are very difficult for some people to overcome. Without the necessary supports in place such as government services and supports from the family, friends or community, individuals often face their addictions, fears and issues alone.

The campaign was launched last November during National Addictions Awareness Week. The theme, Keep Families Strong, speaks to the need for building strong supports for pregnant women. A key message of the campaign is to prevent FAS/FAE by supporting recovery from addictions and abuse. To help build awareness and to communicate these important messages, a number of resources have been developed. They are included in the display in the Great Hall and have been distributed to communities through the Status of Women and Native Women's Association. In addition, two television ads will be released later this month.

I am also pleased to report to Members on an FAS/FAE pilot project that took place in Lutselk'e last week. This project was initiated by the Lutselk'e Health and Social Services Board in partnership with the department, the Native Women's Association and Dr. Nicole Chatel, an NWT pediatrician who has extensive experience working with children affected by FAS/FAE, and their families. The Lutselk'e pilot project included screening for early childhood developmental delays and diagnosis of FAS/FAE and related disorders by the pediatrician. As well, onsite counselling and support was available to families by the Native Women's Association. The project has also led to a number of community-based activities, including:

• • a parenting skills workshop that will be offered to parents who are experiencing difficulty in coping with children with FAS;
• • home visits to families to provide additional supports; and
• • a workshop for youth to talk about dealing with trauma and developing strategies to keep themselves safe.

Mr. Speaker, early reports suggest that this pilot project was very successful and well received by the community. The department will evaluate this project to determine its suitability for use in other regions and communities. As Members know, there is also a three-day workshop on FAS taking place in Fort Simpson at this time.

Recently, we conducted a survey of licensed liquor outlets to gain a better understanding of how these establishments might support alcohol-free pregnancies. This survey confirmed that we need to work with these establishments to promote awareness of FAS/FAE and their role in helping support alcohol-free pregnancies. From work done in other jurisdictions, it is known that actions as simple as asking bars to provide pregnant customers with complementary alcohol-free beverages can make a difference.

In addition, our government, along with the governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Yukon, is a member of the Prairie Northern FAS Partnership. We will be participating in a conference in May where we will present our initiatives, including the pilot project.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that FAS/FAE prevention is a major component in a number of initiatives currently underway, including the Early Childhood Development Action Plan, the department's Healthy Pregnancies Strategy and the Addictions and Mental Health Strategy.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to recognize and thank the Status of Women Council, the Native Women's Association, the Yellowknife Association for Community Living, the Lutselk'e Health and Social Services Board, Health Canada and Dr. Nicole Chatel for their ongoing efforts and contributions. With their efforts, we are working to prevent FAS/FAE and providing the necessary supports to individuals and families who are dealing with FAS/FAE. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Déclarations de ministres. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak today about how the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is meeting some of the challenges presented by fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effect.

FAS/FAE, as they are generally referred to, are not new, but it is only in the past few decades that society has come to realize that prenatal exposure to alcohol or drugs can result in a range of neurological or physical challenges that can affect a child's development.

Mr. Speaker, FAS/FAE are preventable. Education is a major factor in prevention of this condition. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment has taken the following steps to educate children about FAS/FAE:

• • units on the effects of alcohol and drugs in the Northwest Territories health curriculum;
• • the "Skills for Healthy Relationships" program which addresses information, skills and attitudes needed by youth in order to make healthy lifestyle choices with regard to both alcohol use and sexuality issues; and
• • making videos and resources available to classroom teachers that identify preventative measures and increase awareness about FAS/FAE.

In addition to prevention, we must also help with those currently affected by FAS/FAE. This condition is complex and does not affect everybody the same way. We can, however, develop strategies to help students affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol or drugs to lead normal lives.

The focus in the school system is to support teachers in meeting the diverse needs of all children, including those who may be affected by FAS/FAE. The recently completed Student Support Needs Assessment will be used to guide the work of the department in developing resource guides and support materials for teachers. This will help them develop programs that will help to ensure that the diverse needs of students in the classroom are being met.

Mr. Speaker, many community schools work with student support teams. These teams may include school-community counsellors, program support teachers, social workers, alcohol and drug workers and community agencies. Student support teams take an integrated approach to helping students by raising awareness around the prevention of FAS/FAE and by providing necessary support services.

The members of the student support teams in the communities are, in turn, supported in their efforts through professional development opportunities and training coordinated by government departments. The recent, very successful Honouring the Spirit of our Children conference gave team members an opportunity to acquire new skills and learn strategies for dealing with the range of student needs in today's classrooms. That event, sponsored jointly by the Departments of Health and Social Services and Education, Culture and Employment, was open to delegates from across the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, it is critical that we continue to work together to educate parents, students and communities about FAS/FAE prevention and, concurrently, to provide strategies to teachers to help them provide support to students who have been diagnosed with FAS/FAE and their families. Thank you.

-- Applause

Merci, Monsieur Ootes. Déclarations de ministres. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, today all Regular Members have decided to focus on an issue that is having severe repercussions on the people and Government of the Northwest Territories -- fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effect. Mr. Speaker, we are pleased the Cabinet Members are joining with us to discuss these conditions. Fetal alcohol syndrome, also known as FAS, as we all know, is a name given to a combination of mental and physical defects that a child is born with. These mental and physical defects are a direct result of the mother drinking alcohol while she was pregnant.

Fetal alcohol effect, Mr. Speaker, shares some of the same characteristics of FAS, but is not always as evident. However, babies with fetal alcohol effect, or FAE, often have the same amount of brain damage as children born with FAS.

Mr. Speaker, the saddest thing about FAE and FAS is that the effects are permanent. They are with the child for his or her whole life. There is no cure. However, Mr. Speaker, as we have already heard, both are completely preventable. FAE and FAS cross all socio-economic groups and affect all races. In the United States, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services reports that the extra institutional and medical costs over the lifespan of a child born with FAS are expected to run between $1.5 million and $2.2 million in their lifetime. Mr. Speaker, that is in American dollars. If you convert this to Canadian dollars, the expected extra cost would run between $2.3 million and $3 million Canadian for each child.

However, Mr. Speaker, the biggest cost is not the financial one, but the personal one, the lost human potential. Each child born with FAE and FAS faces a life full of physical, emotional and mental challenges. Mr. Speaker, the incidence of FAS and FAE are under-reported. For every child identified with FAS, there are several others who are affected but lack the full set of characteristics for diagnosis. FAE is estimated to be three to ten times the incidence of diagnosed FAS cases.

Mr. Speaker, we are presently in a budget session. Budgets are used to plan for our future. Everyone agrees that FAS and FAE have become a major issue in the Northwest Territories, but because of the lack of services for diagnosis, we do not have reliable statistics available. Clinical diagnosis and good statistical information are necessary for planning programs, services and facilities. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There having been no nays, Mr. Dent, you may conclude.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, honourable Members. As I was saying, Mr. Speaker, in order to plan programs, services and facilities, we need to have good statistical information. Unfortunately, there is a glaring omission in our budget. Residents of the Northwest Territories are concerned that the incidence of FAS and FAE in the Northwest Territories may be increasing, but it is impossible to identify the present magnitude of FAS and FAE in the Northwest Territories and our present budget does not address this issue.

Mr. Speaker, there are many government departments that feel the impacts of FAE and FAS in one way or another. However, this government does not have a government-wide action plan for FAE/FAS. Each department appears to be dealing with this problem independently. There is no coordinated approach, Mr. Speaker. Given the magnitude of the problem, there is a real need for the development of a government-wide action plan on FAE and FAS. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Merci, Monsieur Dent. Déclarations de députés. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Déclarations de députés. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too wish to speak about fetal alcohol syndrome and effect. Far too many people in the Northwest Territories are suffering the effects of FAS/FAE, either personally or in their family.

It is not possible to quantify the costs of FAS/FAE in lost human potential, but there is no doubt that it is huge. There is a great need for awareness development, prevention programs, development of diagnosis and assessment techniques and support for children, youth and adults with FAS/FAE. Mr. Speaker, FAS/FAE is 100 percent preventable.

I applaud the efforts of those who are working in partnership to overcome the challenges this syndrome represents, especially the Native Women's Association, the Status of Women Council, and our own Department of Health and Social Services.

I also want to express support to the many parents and foster parents who also work with tremendous dedication to assist children suffering the effects of this disability. They need the support of medical specialists, the non-government agencies, volunteer groups and the government as they work to dedicate themselves to doing the very best they can for the children in their care.

Awareness initiatives are essential. This is not just a matter for mothers. It is an awareness that we all must have. We are all responsible and able to help prevent this condition that places limits on too many children's prospects of a self-sufficient, satisfying life. Every family, supporting agency and institution providing...

Mr. Handley, the time for your Member's statement has expired.

Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There being no nays, Mr. Handley, you may conclude.

Mr. Speaker, I want to repeat, this condition is 100 percent preventable. It is important to provide support and healing for women who may be at risk of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Partners, parents, family and community all have an important role in this. Family violence, child abuse and even attitudes of blame or shame must be overcome. It only makes it more difficult for high-risk individuals to seek help.

Diagnosis and assessment is very difficult but necessary. We do not know how many individuals are affected by FAS or to what extent. Without a territorial assessment process for diagnosis, there are limits available on treatment.

Support for children, youth and adults with FAS is essential. Parents, teachers and other supporting people need more information on the best ways to work with children with FAS. Above all, addressing FAS is a complex and multi-faceted task that requires all of us to work together with care and compassion.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, by working together with care and compassion, we will make a difference. FAS/FAE is 100 percent preventable. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Handley. I just want to remind Members that Member's statements are two-and-a-half minutes. Of course, realizing the importance of the subject, the Chair does not like to draw away from that attention. However, in view of the number of Members who wish to speak on this subject, the Chair will be as diligent as it can be under the circumstances. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week the Minister responsible for Justice told us in this House about the consultation process that his department was undertaking to inform the residents of the Northwest Territories about the Human Rights Act.

Mr. Speaker, by way of background, basic notions of human rights have been around since the early ages of human civilization. The modern concepts of human rights emerged in 18th century Europe from the struggles for the rights of man. Mr. Speaker, these struggles focused on the rights of individuals to be left alone by the state, and were more negative in that they only required that the state not interfere. These were known, Mr. Speaker, as first generation rights and included the rights of expression, religion and assembly.

Mr. Speaker, presently in the Northwest Territories we have a very unique opportunity to look again at our current human rights legislation and to mould it into what we think should be protected under the general term "human rights." Mr. Speaker, there are those who state that expressive instances of discrimination in Canada are on the decline. However, more subdued and harmful discrimination persists. Equal treatment for all people does not produce equal rights.

Mr. Speaker, as we know, fetal alcohol syndrome, or FAS, is a medical diagnosis that refers to a set of alcohol-related disabilities associated with the use of alcohol during pregnancy. Possible fetal alcohol effect, or FAE, indicates that alcohol being consumed is one of the possible causes for a child's birth defects.

Mr. Speaker, I submit to you that persons with these types of disabilities will be affected by the definition of disability that will be included in the proposed Human Rights Act. At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister of Justice how persons with these types of disabilities will be protected by the new human rights legislation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Déclarations de députés. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too would like to add my voice to this very pressing issue that concerns all of us. Mr. Speaker, there are many myths about FAS that create barriers and hardships for those living with it. I would like to discuss today just a few of those myths that surround this condition.

One myth leads people to believe that behavioural problems associated with FAS/FAE are the result of poor parenting. However, experts in the field know that people with FAS/FAE do not process information in the same way that other people do. This can lead to behavioural problems.

There is the myth that children affected by FAS will grow out of it when they grow up. There is the shocking reality that FAS lasts a lifetime. However, early diagnosis, intervention and supportive services make a difference in reducing the other health, emotional and social problems that can result from FAS. This gives people with FAS an opportunity to be productive and healthy members of society.

The needs of children with FAS are often misunderstood. Their actions need to be viewed as a product of a disability, not an act of will. An intensive, coordinated approach is needed to respond to children with FAS over their lifespan. We need to understand, respect and support their disability.

Affordable, available, accessible and knowledgeable help is needed, Mr. Speaker. The first step towards this support and the development of a comprehensive community action plan begins by having accessible diagnostic and assessment services, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 3, Members' statements. Déclarations de députés. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

The time for your Member's statement has ended, Mr. Antoine.