Glen Abernethy, Minister of Health and Social Services, announced the 16 schools chosen to receive awards as part of the 2018-19 Drop the Pop campaign.

Forty-eight NWT schools participated in the 2018-2019 Drop the Pop challenge using funding to promote healthy foods and beverages. The winning schools will be awarded prizes ranging from $800 – $1,500 in recognition of their activities for the annual campaign.

Some of the highlights from this year’s winners included:

Glen Abernethy, Minister of Health and Social Services, announced the 16 schools chosen to receive awards as part of the 2018-19 Drop the Pop campaign.

Forty-eight NWT schools participated in the 2018-2019 Drop the Pop challenge using funding to promote healthy foods and beverages. The winning schools will be awarded prizes ranging from $800 – $1,500 in recognition of their activities for the annual campaign.

Some of the highlights from this year’s winners included:

The official grand opening of the new Stanton Territorial Hospital  was celebrated with musical performances, traditional fire feeding ceremony, qulliq lighting, and speeches. Officials and guests marked the occasion with a commemorative sculpture and a showcase of artwork from all regions of the Northwest Territories which will be on display in the new hospital.

Mr. Speaker, last week was Disability Awareness Week in the NWT, as well as National AccessAbility Week across the country. It is a time to promote inclusion and accessibility in our communities, and to reflect on what we can all do to make sure that everyone is able to contribute to and be a part of community life. With that, I’d like to provide an update on the Government of the Northwest Territories Disability Action Plan 2018/2019 - 2021/2022, which was tabled in October 2018 and is the final deliverable of the Disability Program Review and Renewal Project. 

Mr. Speaker, one of this government’s top priorities is the safety and well-being of children and youth receiving Child and Family Services. This includes making sure we maintain a child’s connectedness to family, community and culture.

We have learned from our experiences, through internal and external audits, through engagement with Indigenous governments, and through feedback from stakeholders that we need to better manage, resource, structure and sustain changes implemented under the Building Stronger Families Action Plan.

The Minister of Health and Social Services wishes to announce that the Government of Northwest Territories will now cover Mifegymiso for NWT residents with a valid NWT Health Care Card who do not have full coverage for prescriptions under another program or group insurance plan. 

Mr. Speaker, many northerners continue to be held back by mental health and addictions which is why the 18^th Legislative Assembly made it a priority to focus on mental wellness and addictions recovery. Today I would like to update Members on a significant milestone that we have achieved towards making sure that NWT resident who need mental wellness and addictions services can get the help they need locally and through culturally-appropriate methods.

Glen Abernethy, Minister of Health and Social Services announced this year’s recipients of $400,000 to support health promotion and prevention activities Through the Healthy Choices Fund. Twelve eligible organizations and community governments received funding to help maximize the impact of health promotion and prevention activities that support individuals, families, and communities in making healthy lifestyle choices.

 Some of this year’s successful proposals include:

Minister Responsible for Persons with Disabilities, Glen Abernethy, congratulated recipients of the 2019 NWT Disability Awareness Awards presented as part of the annual Disability Awareness Tea today in the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly. Minister Abernethy issued the following statement recognizing this year’s award recipients:

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the World Health Organization’s World No Tobacco Day which is tomorrow, on May 31, 2019.  This day provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts the Government of the Northwest Territories is taking to promote the prevention of tobacco use and its cessation.