Mr. Speaker, with regard to part (a), Health Canada, through the substance use and addictions program, or SUAP, has a contribution agreement with the board of education of schools district number 62 in Sooke. The funding is allocated to this organization and is not broken down by individual schools. According to the parameters of the agreement, funding recipients have the option to distribute a portion of their funding to other eligible third parties. Third parties are defined as individuals or entities that receive funding from the Health Canada funding recipient to carry out specific components of a project. This can include schools, with their participation at the discretion of the funding recipient.
The Health Canada funding recipient is responsible for distributing the funds and overseeing the progress of projects undertaken by any third parties. All third party funding is subject to the terms outlined in the Health Canada contribution agreement, or CA.
All funded recipients are required to account for the funds they receive from SUAP, including any amounts disbursed to third parties. They must submit a detailed budget, annual cash flow forecasts and records of expenditures on a regular basis.
With regard to parts (b), (c) and (d), the board of education of school district number 62 in Sooke is implementing a project titled “Strengthening Substance Use Prevention, Harm Reduction, and Pathways to Care in Sooke School District”. This initiative supports middle and secondary school-based events aimed at improving awareness of substance use issues among teachers in order to help them better support youth with concerning substance use behaviors and implement evidence-based drug education approaches. With SUAP funding, the organization has initiated its “Youth in Action” campaign, which includes planning and hosting health-related activities.
Curriculum development and the dissemination of materials developed for students are not central to this SUAP-funded project. Therefore, information regarding related costs and titles of materials developed for distribution to students is not available.
The recipient is not required to track or report budget expenditures categorized by substance.
The recipient holds sole responsibility for determining the focus of learning events and resources within the parameters of their school district policies and professional practice needs. School-based curriculum is supported by the B.C. Ministry of Education and managed by individual school districts. Health Canada does not direct these activities or participate in direct decision-making related to them.
To date, the project has produced and delivered 16 learning opportunities and six knowledge products in response to requests from teachers, counsellors, principals and vice-principals for easy access to evidence-aligned resources.
Two examples of initiatives implemented are as follows. One was a series of full-day, secondary school-based training events on naloxone education to 270 participating youth and staff. In addition, the project supported a forum for youth to learn more about and provide input into a regional youth strategy based on the results of the adolescent health survey available on the Sooke school website, which included a dialogue on how to reduce exposure to harms from substance use.
With regard to part (e), the project provides funding for release time of approximately 40 teachers. This allows for teachers on call to be compensated for replacing approximately 40 regular full-time teachers for a period of two days of participation in training and workshops related to the project.
With regard to part (f), the board of education of school district number 62 mandates that all employed personnel undergo and pass a criminal records check as a condition of employment. Further details about this policy can be accessed on its website.
With regard to parts (f)(i), (ii) and (iii), under their agreement with Health Canada, funded organizations are not required to report on or disclose the results of any criminal records check on their staff. However, Health Canada retains the right to request project-related information with reasonable notice at its discretion.