Thank you, Mr.

Chair. This

government is supposedly about prevention. One of our goals is sustainable, vibrant and safe communities. One of our priorities is a focus on prevention by promoting healthy choices and lifestyles.

The lack of a coordinator, as was recently discussed, has not helped the situation. The communities are in a situation where they need some help. There are some obvious community

capacity challenges. There is clearly an unequal distribution of income across the North, with our smaller communities especially — some of the areas where these dollars are most effectively spent — being on the short end of the stick.

It’s clear that if we’re going to really be effective and efficient in pursuing our priorities, programs such as this need to continue. If we get federal dollars, I’m sure we’ll be able to put them in, in addition to this, and increase the effectiveness of the program. But, Mr.

Chair, we need to be at the plate here,

especially when these are our self-identified priorities. And on that basis, I

am strongly

recommending this motion.