ENGLISH
• SUMMARY
SUMMARY
• Short title
Short title
• National Framework on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
National Framework on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
• Reports to Parliament
Reports to Parliament

SUMMARY

Short title

Short title

1 This Act may be cited as the National Framework on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Act.

National Framework on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

National framework

2 (1) The Minister of Health must develop a national framework on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Content

(2) The national framework must

• (a) include measures to address the training, education and guidance needs of health care and other professionals regarding the prevention and diagnosis fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and support measures for those who are impacted by it;

• (b) identify measures to promote research and intergovernmental information-sharing in relation to the prevention and diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and support measures for those who are impacted by it;

• (c) set out national standards for the prevention and diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and for support measures for those who are impacted by it;

• (d) set out a strategy to increase awareness of the risks of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and the consequences of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, including by recommending changes to legislative and policy frameworks related to alcohol consumption and marketing; and

• (e) identify any other measures that the Minister considers appropriate to prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, ensure that individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder are properly diagnosed, and promote better outcomes for those individuals, their families and their caregivers.

Consultations

(3) For the purpose of developing the national framework, the Minister must consult with

• (a) the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Employment and Social Development, the Minister of Indigenous Services and any other ministers who, in the Minister’s opinion, have relevant responsibilities;

• (b) representatives of the provincial and territorial governments, including those responsible for health, mental health and addictions;

• (c) relevant stakeholders, including self-advocates, caregivers, support persons, service providers, representatives from the medical and research communities, and organizations that the Minister considers having relevant experience and expertise relating to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder;

• (d) Indigenous communities and organizations with predominantly Indigenous leadership; and

• (e) any other person or entity that the Minister considers appropriate.

Reports to Parliament

Tabling of national framework

3 (1) Within one year after the day on which this Act comes into force, the Minister of Health must prepare a report setting out the national framework for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and cause the report to be tabled before each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed.

Publication

(2) The Minister must publish the report on the website of the Department of Health within 10 days after the day on which the report is tabled in Parliament.

Report

4 Within five years after the day on which the report referred to in section 3 is tabled in Parliament, the Minister of Health must cause to be tabled in each House of Parliament a report that sets out

• (a) the measures from the national framework that have been implemented and an evaluation of their effectiveness in supporting individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, their families and their caregivers; and

• (b) with respect to any measure included in the national framework that was not implemented, the reason it has not been implemented and any timeline for its implementation.