Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this discussion, if you look at the issue of health, not just specifically addictions, but including addictions and mental health. There has been a recognition in this House, there has been a recognition nationally that if we just look at trying to fix things once they're broken -- be it on the acute care side, be it with diabetes or all the alcohol-related diseases or diseases related to smoking -- if we just wait and don't do anything at the front end, we'll go broke. We will never have enough money to build the facilities necessary to look after the people, when we know that if we work on the front end side or if we invest in the communities, if we can get people to make the right personal choices -- be it drinking, smoking, exercise, what you eat -- and we provide the support services and we coordinate with education and we have the supports for home care, that's the only way we're going to be able to deal with the problems, especially in the territory here where our health indicators tend to be worse than the national average. So we do need facilities. But we've been told in this House -- and I remember with this committee -- the issue to talk about the prevention and the small portion of our budget that actually is put towards prevention is probably less than five percent. It's probably more like two or three percent and we're spending the vast majority of our budget on dealing with issues on the acute care side or fixing things when they're broken. We know that the costs are not undiminished. There are constantly forced-growth pressures. It is a very important point and my opinion is that we have to make a concerted and sustained effort on the side to work with the communities, to work with individuals and families, and put some serious resources over time on the prevention side. Thank you.
Michael Miltenberger on Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 17th, 2005. See this statement in context.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 16th, 2005
Page 1334
See context to find out what was said next.