Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, during question period, I had asked the Minister of Health and Social Services some questions about something that has come out in the news recently. That was that obesity rates are at historic levels, specifically for the Maritimes but even more so for the Northwest Territories.
That got me further into research and I found that in 2004 red flags were raised, and yet nothing was
done. The Member did mention that they did start a program in 2003, yet we are still at these historic rates today.
I did a little further research into how we can address this or look at other historical documents and reports that might have caused some more red flags, and I was really pleased to find something else here in terms of prevention and promotion.
The main cause of death, disease and disability in Canada and the Northwest Territories today are chronic diseases and injuries. However, a large portion of chronic diseases, disabilities and injuries can be prevented or their onsets can be delayed. That’s where we need to begin and drop these historic rates back to where they were in 2004, or even lower.
I also came across a declaration on prevention and promotion from Canada’s Ministers of Health and health promotion and healthy living that was signed in 2010. I was very happy to see this and I’m sure that our Minister had also signed and adopted this declaration, and I would encourage all Members of this Assembly to take a look at this declaration. Look and see what’s stated in there.
But just for your information, I just want to highlight a couple things. Their vision was the view that promotion of health and the prevention of disease, disability and injury are a priority and necessary to the sustainability of the health system. That’s where we need to begin. They also recognize that the onset can be delayed of all these diseases, and that prevention needs to be the first step in management. Yet for the last two years, since I’ve been in this government, we’ve been fighting for more dollars for prevention and promotion, when there’s a good chance that our Minister of Health at the time did sign off on this declaration.
I wanted to discuss a little further in detail some of these findings, but I just want to put that point forward and I will continue on this battle so that our obesity rates or health rates do go down. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.