Repercussions of Poverty and of the Crisis in the Fisheries on the Health of Young People in the Acadian Peninsula

A documentary and community study prepared by the Centre de Bénévolat de la Péninsule Acadienne Inc.

Ghislaine Foulem

Prepared for
Population and Public Health Branch,
Atlantic Regional Office
Health Canada

April 2000

PDF Format (359 KB)

The opinions expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views of Health Canada.

Également disponsible en français sous le titre, Répercussions de la pauvreté et de la crise du secteur des pêches sur la santé des jeunes de la Péninsule acadienne.

Contents may not be reproduced for commercial purposes, but any other reproduction, with acknowledgements is encouraged. Please credit the source as follows:
Repercussions of Poverty and of the Crisis in the Fisheries on the Health of Young People in the Acadian Peninsula: A documentary and community study prepared by the Centre de Bénévolat de la Péninsule Acadienne Inc.. April 2000. Produced by Ghislaine Foulem for the Population and Public Health Branch, Atlantic Regional Office, Health Canada.

For more information contact:
Atlantic Regional Office
Population and Public Health Branch
Health Canada
1802 - 1505 Barrington Street
Halifax NS B3J 3Y6
Tel: (902) 426-2700
Fax: (902) 426-9689
Email: pphatlantic-spspatlantique@hc-sc.gc.ca
Web site: www.pph-atlantic.ca

© HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF CANADA (2001) as represented by the Minister of Health.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Centre de Bénévolat de la Péninsule Acadienne Inc. wanted to involve young people in the Acadian Peninsula in a concrete way in the documentary and community study on the repercussions of poverty and of the crisis in the fisheries on the health of young people in the Acadian Peninsula.

The Centre de Bénévolat de la Péninsule Acadienne Inc. and the Population and Public Health Branch, Atlantic Region, Health Canada, wish to thank the following persons for their support and dedication.

YOUTH ADVISORY TEAM

Céline Blanchard	Louis-Mailloux High School, Caraquet
Shannon Robichaud	W.-A.-Losier High School, Tracadie-Sheila
Michel Mallet	Marie-Esther High School, Shippagan
Sylvette Hébert	Concertation rurale Centre-Péninsule Inc. (Louis-Mailloux High School)
Christian Besnier	Université de Moncton, Shippagan Campus
Sonia Cormier	New Brunswick Community College, Shippagan Campus

OBSERVERS

Jennifer Smith	Université de Moncton, Shippagan Campus
Patrick Turner	New Brunswick Community College, Shippagan Campus

WORK TEAM

Mario Doiron	Youth worker, Acadian Peninsula
Barbara Losier	Coordinator, Mouvement acadien des communautés en santé du Nouveau-Brunswick
Léo-Paul Pinet	Executive Director, Centre de Bénévolat de la Péninsule Acadienne Inc.

CONSULTANT

Ghislaine Foulem

PRODUCTION AND SECRETARIAL SUPPORT

Paula Robichaud
Guylaine Haché-Godin

We also wish to thank Ronald Duguay, Director of Student Services, Université de Moncton, Shippagan Campus, for his support in the process of selecting an observer for the campus. We are also grateful to Thérèse Finn-McGraw for her support regarding the selection of students from the community college.

The Centre de Bénévolat de la Péninsule Acadiennne Inc. would also like to thank the 52 young people from the Acadian Peninsula who so generously contributed by responding to the questionnaire and participating in the discussion groups.

Our final thanks go to Nicole Falardeau, Program Consultant, Population and Public Health Branch, Atlantic Regional Office, Health Canada. Her availability, support and direction greatly facilitated everyone's work.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	INTRODUCTION
1.	PROFILE OF THE ACADIAN PENINSULA
1.1	The process of taking control
1.2	Findings
1.3	Structural problems
1.4	Employment Insurance reform
1.5	Demography: Decrease in 0- to 19-year-olds
1.6	Youth: Future resource for the Acadian Peninsula
1.7	Young people's place in healthy communities
2.	WORKING GROUP
3.	YOUTH PARTICIPATION
4.	SUMMARY OF GROUP DISCUSSIONS
4.1	Exodus of young people from the Acadian Peninsula as a result of the fisheries crisis and poverty
4.2	Concerns due to the socio-economic situation in the Acadian Peninsula
4.3	Concerns of young people with regard to the fisheries crisis
4.4	Other factors affecting the economic situation
4.5	Evaluation of the information, resources and opportunities available for young people in the Acadian Peninsula
4.6	Evaluation of the quality of life and the vitality of the community
4.7	Living in a rural community when one is young and Acadian
4.8	Future prospects for young people in the Acadian Peninsula
4.9	Young people's needs for services and resources
4.10	Ideas and solutions
4.11	Role of young people
4.12	General comments on what young people experience in the Acadian Peninsula
5.	ANALYSIS OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR 13- TO 21-YEAR OLDS IN THE ACADIAN PENINSULA
5.1	Age - sex - level of schooling
5.2	Place of residence
5.3	Origin - language
5.4	Family and personal situation
5.5	Family and personal income
5.6	Working conditions
5.7	Interest in work
5.8	Interest in studies
5.9	Leisure activities
5.10	Social network
5.11	Lifestyles
5.12	Interest in remaining in the Acadian Peninsula
5.13	Concerns about the living environment
6.	RECOMMENDATIONS
7.	OBSERVERS' REPORTS
7.1	Report by Patrick Turner
7.2	Report by Jennifer Smith
	CONCLUSION
	ENDNOTES
	BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDIX A	PRESENTATION OF THE ORGANIZATION (CENTRE DE BÉNÉVOLAT DE LA PÉNINSULE ACADIENNE INC.)
APPENDIX B	CRITERIA FOR RECRUITMENT OF THE CONSULTANT
APPENDIX C	CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF THE OBSERVERS
APPENDIX D	CRITERIA FOR FORMATION OF THE YOUTH ADVISORY TEAM
APPENDIX E	WORKING GROUP
APPENDIX F	DISCUSSION GROUPS
APPENDIX G	QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE ACADIAN PENINSULA

Please note that this document was published by Health Canada prior to the announcement of the establishment of the Public Health Agency of Canada on September 24, 2004. Any reference to Health Canada should be assumed to be to the Public Health Agency of Canada.