Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The committee recognizes the health and welfare of families are influenced by a great many factors, many of which fall under the control of other divisions of the Department of Health and Social Services, or other GNWT departments altogether. Much can be achieved by taking a unified approach to improving services that often have a profound influence on child welfare.

68. The Department of Justice must increase its

support for legal aid, and ensure access to

legal aid for children and families involved with child and family services.

69. The NWT Housing Corporation must:

a) develop and implement policies to ensure

that child and family services’ clients are not prevented from reuniting their families due to loss of adequate housing under the control of NWTHC or local housing authorities;

b) ensure that its housing stock is fully

utilized, particularly in communities with shortages of public housing;

c) ensure flexibility in dealing with child and

family services clients.

70. The Department of Education, Culture and

Employment must review its income support and assistance programs, and ensure that:

a) support is sufficient for a family to live on;

b) support is delivered rapidly and efficiently,

as called for in current policy;

c) applications and enrolment are simple and

efficient;

d) renewals and updates of financial and

personal information are required in a reasonable time frame.

71. The Department of Health and Social Services

must expand its addictions treatment programs to include alcohol treatment convenient to every region, and a basic level of treatment and support in every community.

72. The Government of the Northwest Territories

must develop and implement a comprehensive Anti-Poverty Strategy, involving all appropriate departments, that includes full consideration of child welfare issues.

73. The Department of Health and Social Services

must develop a strategic plan incorporating the recommendations of this report, starting with a response to it within 120 days.

Mr. Speaker, that concludes the overview and recommendations contained in the report on the Review of the Child Family Services Act – Building Stronger Families.

On behalf of the committee, I wish to thank everyone who helped us in our review of the act and its implementation. I thank all those who shared their stories with us, the communities that spoke of their struggles with these issues and experts and professionals that provided invaluable information and contacts.

We would also like to thank the Minister and the department for their assistance over the last year. The Standing Committee on Social Programs views the presentation of this report to the House as just a

first step and we look forward to working with the Minister to implement these recommendations.

People spoke very strongly, Mr. Speaker. We cannot forget that. It’s long past time to deliver on years of promises to the people of the Northwest Territories. Together we can build stronger families. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.