Alfred Moses

I would like to ask the Premier, after all of his briefings and all of his information sessions, will the Premier commit to supporting the residents and the businesses of Inuvik by participating in a joint effort to create an action plan to find a solution for a long-term gas supply. After the briefings and the information sessions, will he commit to that development of an action plan?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement today is going to deal with the current gas situation in Inuvik. As we know, there is a short lifespan to the gas reserve that supplies natural gas to the residents and businesses in the town of Inuvik. For the past 12 years Inuvik Gas Limited has supplied natural gas to over 900 customers, and during this time there have been noticeable and significant financial and environmental benefits. However, that gas supply to the people of Inuvik is estimated to be at less than two years, even closer to a year and a half. This has now become an urgent...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to make reference back to the Caucus priorities set forth by the 17th Legislative Assembly. One component that I personally thought was missing was the component to honour our youth, and, actually, it is really great to see a strong contingent of youth in our gallery today. I would like to take this opportunity just to reassure the youth of the Northwest Territories, and reassure all those organizations that do great work with youth in the Northwest Territories that it is on our agenda within certain departments, as you heard today in the Minister’s...

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services, for that answer. My last question is in regard to the same thing with the programming. We have a lot of programs for people that are institutionalized. We have a lot of programming for people who are incarcerated in the Northwest Territories. There is a really good article about it today in the News/North. For those that aren’t in those institutions or that are in the community that are suffering and aren’t getting those services, what are the programs in place for those individuals in the communities? Thank you.

I understand that we’re not looking at building any new infrastructure, especially with the situation that the GNWT is in. However, I’d like to see an inventory of the buildings that are not being used right now in the Beaufort-Delta that can house such treatment programs for the people that are going through the system and don’t have that opportunity to get those services that they need. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister, for your answer on that question. In terms of your priorities – and I do know that the ASA does provide funding to all the communities – you mentioned that there were five communities that received funding this year. How were those communities chosen to receive that funding?

We do know there are programs out there and we do know that it is a priority for the government and within the Department of ECE. My question specifically was what programs are in place for communities that don’t have those programs and communities that need those facilities. What are the action steps that the Department of ECE is going to take within the next two years to make sure that those infrastructures are put in place so that people in our communities and children can succeed? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Going on to my colleagues’ comments, it’s not very often that we do get a lot of youth of this magnitude in the House, into the gallery. I’d like to recognize all the students from Ulukhaktok. Welcome to Yellowknife. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.

I, too, want to thank Patrick Joss. He’s a very committed volunteer and community leader in his community, not only Ulukhaktok but throughout the Beaufort-Delta region. He has helped out in a lot of things. Welcome to all the students.

In some of the other departments, the Department of Justice, they have a really good diversion program. The Department of ECE has a really good on-the-land program. Has the Department of Health looked at these successful programs and thought about implementing them in the treatment sector for both the youth that are battling addictions as well as adults that are battling addictions, to create an on-the-land treatment program within the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question also is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. It’s dealing with our priorities set out by the 17th Legislative Assembly, enhancing addiction treatment programs using existing infrastructure. To date, with our priorities, has the Department of Health set up an inventory to begin identifying any of the existing infrastructure that are currently available to accommodate treatment programs specifically in the Beaufort-Delta region? Thank you.