Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, I want to thank my colleagues for bringing this motion forward. I am in full support of this motion. Recently, I think the Department of Health and Social Services announced a bit of a focus on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and I fully support that. But, you know, throughout the government we tend to put a focus on children, particularly with FASD, and that focus needs to be expanded to include adults.
I think it’s well documented, I think it’s known that adults with FASD can lead extremely productive lives if they’re given certain supports. First of all, they need to be diagnosed. Once they’re
diagnosed, they can be given supports through various organizations, whether it be government or non-government organizations, but with minimal support, very often people with FASD can lead extremely productive and extremely successful lives.
One of the things that I think that treating people with FASD and allowing them to become productive members of our society is going to have an impact in a financial way on this government or on any government. You know, we’re going to see a reduction in our health and social services costs, because there is going to be less of a strain on our health and social services facilities.
There is quite likely to be fewer residents who are incarcerated, because FASD people with the proper treatment can learn the need to manage their lives in a way that keeps them out of jail. And I would think there is going to be a reduced draw on income support, because people are going to be employed within the community, within the workforce and they, therefore, are going to be able to support themselves. So even just those three things are going to be a financial benefit to the government.
It’s been mentioned already, and I would just like to reiterate, there’s a gap in the services that we provide at the moment with regard to FASD and I think there’s a bit of a leaning towards filling that gap, but we certainly need to make sure that we include adults in both the diagnosis and in the provision of services and treatments for adults with FASD.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I am totally in support of this motion and, again, I encourage my colleagues to support it as well. Thank you.