Mr. Speaker,
I rise today to announce the successful completion of the Nunavut Elders and Seniors Strategy.
When it comes to our Elders, time is running out. That sense of urgency is something that our government has heard loud and clear from Elders. We need to act now to make their lives better. It was with this urgency in mind that our government took on the work of developing an Elder and Seniors Strategy that addresses the needs of aging Nunavummiut.
We have 89 action items identified within the strategy. And, Mr. Speaker, I am truly happy to announce that we are taking immediate action on one of those items: safe transportation.
To that end, Mr. Speaker, we will provide Elders’ vans for communities in a phased approach, beginning with five. The vans will allow Elders to get to important appointments and to conduct day to day tasks such as buying groceries. The first vans will be in communities this sealift season.
Mr. Speaker, the strategy is intended to help fulfill one of the cornerstones of our Katujjiluta mandate – aging with dignity. I committed to gathering input from Elders across the territory. Between February and May 2023, two Elders from each community were invited to take part in the regional gatherings in Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, Pond Inlet, Iqaluit, and Ottawa.
I am truly grateful for the time, feedback and suggestions provided by these 73 Elders. This strategy would not be possible without them. I am also grateful to MLAs Mary Killiktee and Joanna Quassa for their insight and direction, which shaped this work.
Most of our departments and territorial corporations will have a role in implementing these action items, with the goal of serving our Elders.
We were committed to ensuring this strategy be grounded in broad community perspectives, in addition to being based on Elders’ real lived experiences, needs, and hopes. I have full confidence that the outcomes will speak for themselves.
I am tabling the What We Heard report and the Nunavut Elders and Seniors Strategy today.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.