On June 22, 2007, CCSA signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Health and Social Services, Government of the Northwest Territories, pledging both parties to work together to enhance the health and well-being of the people of the NWT in the area of addictions and substance abuse. The three-year MOA opens the door to greater sharing of knowledge and learning experiences on matters of mutual interest, including First Nations and Inuit peoples and issues of alcohol and other drug use.
The agreement is expected to lead to improved partnerships with government and non-governmental organizations as well as with the private sector in the North, and it reaffirms a common commitment to the importance of addictions and substance abuse research.
Highlights of Activities to Date
- CCSA and the Government of the Northwest Territories are partnering on the planning and coordination of the Thematic Workshop on the National Framework priority of “Reaching out to Canada’s North” scheduled for the fall of 2009.
- On November 30, 2007, CCSA brokered a meeting between the Department of Health and Social Services, GNWT and three main diamond mines operating in the NWT: BHP Diamond Mines, Diavik Diamonds Mines Inc., and DeBeers Canada. This meeting was referred to as the NWT Health/Industry Network. The meeting was an opportunity to facilitate dialogue between private and public sectors whose mandates intersect around the health and safety issues of mining employees. Since this meeting, these parties have continued to convene and share resources related to health issues such as substance abuse and public health awareness of sexually transmitted infections, hepatitis C, etc.
- CCSA joined community leaders in Yellowknife in June 2007 to address substance abuse issues in a special event called NWT Addictions Community World Café, signing a memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the NWT's Department of Health and Social Services and participating in local cultural events.