Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. A motion is on the floor. To the motion. Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This motion clearly indicates that we need to focus on some better initiatives in the education and promotion of healthy, active living. I just want to share a couple of key statistics with you to put a light on this motion.

Life expectancy is six years lower in the NWT than the Canadian average, and I think that’s why this motion has been brought forward. Sixty-three percent of NWT residents 15 and over are overweight or obese compared to only 51 percent of Canadians. It is clear and obvious that we need to do a better job in health promotion and education so that we have much more healthy residents in the years to come.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Active living and physical activity levels is one area where we in the North are challenged. I think there needs to be some additional attention. It’s demonstrated that is so important, even during early childhood to the brain development, but also for health throughout life. The committee has repeatedly asked, as one specific example, for some form of milk subsidy. We, apparently, haven’t done that because parents need to take responsibility for raising their own children. Our employment rates are as low as 30 or 40 percent in some of our communities. This is not a matter of them not wanting to take care of their children. That’s one example. Let’s get that done. I still get requests for that and I know other Members hear about it occasionally as well. I will be supporting the motion.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. To the motion. Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just to briefly touch on this motion here. I think committee members and residents don’t have to look any further than some of the key findings in the Health Status Report that was brought forth in August 2011 and some of the key findings that need to be addressed to protect and increase the healthy living of our residents of the Northwest Territories. Obviously, with my background, and seeing the effectiveness of health promotion and education initiatives, and putting more dollars into that and investing into our people, I will be supporting this motion. Like I said, you don’t have to look much further than the Health Status Report of residents of the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Moses. To the motion.

Question has been called.

---Carried

Page 8-31, Health and Social Services, activity summary, community wellness and social services, operations expenditure summary, $89.259 million. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to ask a little bit about the family violence and counselling. I know we’ve had our third, sort of, Phase 3 recommendations on this area, and this year we weren’t able to advance on all of those but I think there was general agreement to them as priorities. Could I just get, maybe, an update on what we’re proposing to do in this fiscal year under consideration here in the way of addressing family violence and the Family Violence Plan, Phase 3.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are continuing the work that was being done under the family violence prevention initiatives in 2012-2013. Social Marketing Strategy, $82,000 community protocols, $120,000; community response teams, $90,000; recovery and support programs for children, $75,000; for a total ongoing contribution of $367,000.

That sounds like a good response. Can the Minister confirm that that addresses all of the recommendations of Phase 3 based on the recent review?

The information I have is that it does address the recommendations and that we are working with the Coalition on Family Violence to address the recommendations in the original plan.

Thanks for those remarks from the Minister. I know Health is working with the Department of Justice, as well, and there are some other programs in that department working on this initiative.

I guess, just on the mental health side, I was happy to see that there is now some attempt to fund the Mental Health Action Plan that resulted from the extensive review that was done. Can this Minister tell me if that will address the needs for assessment and diagnosis and care that would be required out of mental health court, the services that would be required for a mental health court in the Northwest Territories.

I would just have the deputy minister read through some of the

information of the programs and information where we’re spending the money to try and address that issue.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Ms. DeLancey.

Thank you, Ms. DeLancey. Mr. Bromley.

That is positive news. But, of course, I think the committee is looking to fully address all of the gaps. What would it take? What is left to be done? These are the sorts of things that will be useful in discussions to come.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. For that response we’ll go to Minister Beaulieu.