Inuvik Boot Lake

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to make reference to what the Minister said earlier, as well, that we need to get communities committed. Does the Minister not think these communities are committed after listening to the coroner’s report that alcohol-related deaths are at 49 percent, suicides are at 50 percent, accidental deaths are at 76 percent, or homicides? Those stats would make my community committed to getting detox and treatment centres in the communities even more.

Specifically to treatment programs, I would like to ask the Minister of Health what specific programs are not offered...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 29)

As I said, he stated earlier that he didn’t feel the money could not be better spent other than talking about what we already know is a concern. With $300,000 we could hire a couple more nurses and designate some beds in the hospitals in Yellowknife and Inuvik or Norman Wells or Hay River for the people who need it. That’s where I’m trying to get the question. It’s very disheartening to sit on this side and listen to the Minister of Health make those comments and let us know that there are no detox beds in the Northwest Territories that he can confirm.

My second question is in terms of the...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 29)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Last week the Minister of Health and Social Services made a Minister’s statement on a forum on addictions that happened last Friday here in Yellowknife. In fact, he was quoted on CBC that he said that people say that government doesn’t listen to them. Well, on this side of the House we often get that same type of feeling that government doesn’t listen to what we have to offer.

I believe this is about the third or fourth time we’ve done a theme day here on mental health and addictions. If not one, it was the other. The Minister’s statement last week has sparked a lot of...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 29)

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted its public review of Bill 13, An Act to Repeal the Credit Union Act, on November 1, 2012. The committee thanks the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill.

The Credit Union Act is so out of date that it is inoperative. There have been no credit unions in the Northwest Territories since 1978. Meanwhile, changes to the federal legislation will soon enable NWT-based credit unions and national credit unions to operate here.

Bill 13 also deletes references to the Credit Union Act in two other territorial acts...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have all heard our Members’ statements, questions, the motion brought to the floor about how big of an issue this is to the people of the Northwest Territories. It goes way beyond the walls of the Legislative Assembly and the decisions that are made here. If I’m going to say one thing, and as we keep our fiscal responsibility in place and the status quo for programs and services, what else is going to be put in place for the status quo is the alcohol-related deaths: 49 percent suicides, 57 percent accidental, 76 percent homicides, which today, if actions were taken...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 29)

I really enjoy when the Minister speaks about addictions and gives us his point of view on things. He said immediate risk. We’re not always dealing with people who have immediate risk and, actually, as we know, in mental health workers, we are short on that and there’s a big waiting list in that sense as well.

The coroner’s report specifies that 49 percent of alcohol-related deaths are suicides. So there is a great correlation here. Until they have to be in immediate risk, then will we help them? No. That doesn’t make sense.

What is the Minister doing to ensure that we do have the medical...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I really don’t know where to begin with this. Obviously, you know where my questions are going. The Minister stated earlier that he doesn’t feel that there’s no better use for the $300,000 for these discussion forums that are going on. I beg to differ, and I’m very concerned, and I do disagree, and I’m sure there are a lot of people in the medical field and justice system that would also be concerned with this attitude, as the Minister of Health and Social Services, that he feels that money cannot be better spent other than talking about what we already know is a...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 27)

I’d like to ask the Minister how many detox beds does this territory have to help clients that are in need; the number of beds for our 45,000 population here in the territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that Cabinet did receive a letter and a proposal from NCS looking at, in the interim, while they’re waiting for someone to take on the host position and host the radio program, that an NCS staff would host the program, working very closely with employees of the GNWT to get these programs and services out to the community.

Would the Deputy Premier look at that option until a suitable candidate from the GNWT is able to take that on? Will he look at that possibility and that proposal and get this show back on the air? The sooner the better, for not this government...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 27)

I’m not sure, maybe the Minister can correct me if I’m wrong here, but in terms of 20-month agreements – and there hasn’t been anything on for the last 10 months except for five months in agreement – that must mean we’re five months left into the agreement. So can the Minister confirm with me that we’re still in an agreement and that we don’t have to renew another one in two to three months? Can he confirm if we’re still in the same agreement with CKLB or not? Because if we have a contract with them for $3,400 a month and we’re not doing the programs, they’re losing out on funding for their...