YELLOWKNIFE (November 29, 2012) – Media are invited to a press conference on Friday, November 30^th with Dr. Kami Kandola, Deputy Chief Public Health Officer with the Department of Health and Social Services and Dr. Terry Wuerz, Internist at Stanton Territorial Hospital to discuss newly developed resources for clinicians and the public pertaining to HIV/AIDS.

 WHEN: Friday, November 30, 2012

WHERE: large boardroom, third floor, Stanton Territorial Hospital

Yellowknife (November 27, 2012) – The Minister’s Forum on Addictions and Community Wellness begins community visits on December 3 with a four-day session in Fort McPherson.

YELLOWKNIFE (November 26, 2012) – Educators, health staff, youth workers, and counselors in twelve communities are being trained to teach NWT youth about healthy sexuality.

YELLOWKNIFE (November 14, 2012) – Certified child car seat technicians are now in place in the Northwest Territories.

Eight certified technicians from Fort Simpson, Hay River, Fort Smith, and Yellowknife were trained in car seat installation last week. Graduates applied their new training in a car seat education clinic last Friday afternoon at the Yellowknife Canadian Tire store.

Mr. Speaker, in 2001 people from around the NWT gathered on the Hay River Reserve to develop a Social Agenda for the Northwest Territories.  Addressing social issues was a priority for the Government of the Northwest Territories at that time, as it is for the 17^th Legislative Assembly today. 

YELLOWKNIFE (November 6, 2012) – The Department of Education, Culture and Employment, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Services, released a report today exploring the health perceptions, choices and experiences of school-aged children in the Northwest Territories (NWT).  The report, titled Health and Health-Related Behaviours Among Young People: Northwest Territories, is based upon data collected through the national Health Beha

Mr. Speaker, in 2011, the Auditor General of Canada recommended improvements to the Department’s ability to evaluate and report on performance.  Specifically, the Auditor General recommended that we implement system-wide indicators, develop a program evaluation plan for the health and social services system, and regularly inform this Assembly about the performance of the system. Mr. Speaker, later today, I will table the first Annual Report on the Strategic Plan. 

 Mr. Speaker, November is National Adoptions Awareness Month. It’s an opportunity to recognize families in the Northwest Territories who provide a remarkable service to children.  

Mr. Speaker, I am proud that the NWT has been a world leader in recognizing aboriginal customs and culture when children need a family. Our legislation recognizes that our people take care of our children within their families, extended families and the community.

Mr. Speaker, in my travels across the Northwest Territories, meeting with communities, attending assemblies and numerous board meetings, I have heard one constant theme. Addictions are destroying our families and communities.

This government spends millions of dollars on addictions services. But our people are still drinking in large numbers.

Yellowknife (October 30, 2012) – All public influenza immunization clinics in the Northwest Territories will proceed as scheduled. The decision follows a Health Canada recommendation that flu vaccine made by the pharmaceutical firm Novartis not be used pending a review of the discovery of clumping of particles in the vaccine in Europe.