David Ramsay

Agreed. I would like to thank you very much. Consideration of these documents is concluded and we will call for a short recess. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak today about drugs and the impact they are having on our communities, families, residents and children. I had the opportunity on Monday to attend the session with representatives of Crack Busters, a group trying to help crack addicts through the process of quitting crack cocaine.

I listened to how the group works and learned from local addictions experts, including Dr. Ross Wheeler, how addictive and devastating crack is. Unless you are personally affected by crack, most people have no idea how dangerous this drug is. It destroys families, and...

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. Does the committee agree that consideration of Ministers’ statements…Oh, Mr. Premier. Sorry.

Mahsi, Mr. Zoe. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Madam Groenewegen. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I have Mr. Yakeleya next.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess the bottom line is that people out in the communities or small communities have an indication of who the drug dealers are, where they are selling the drugs, where they live, and they don’t see anything done about it. That’s the problem that is facing people here. Where is the action? I know the Minister stood up in the House last week and said the two new traffic positions were going to Hay River, but according to the RCMP they aren’t going to Hay River. Again, and I asked this question last week and I will ask it again today, is Hay River getting two new...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask some questions today to the Minister of Justice. I am sure the Minister of Justice is aware of an article that appeared in the Edmonton Journal on Sunday, February 27th, and the fact that it painted a very negative picture of Yellowknife. The title of the article is, “Big City Drugs Plague Northern Capital,” and actually made reference to 50th Street here in Yellowknife as a little Hastings. I am wondering if the Minister of Justice is aware that we only have three, that is three, full-time drug squad members in Yellowknife. I would like to ask...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last year the Regular Members on this side of the House brought forward a motion in regard to reinstating treatment centres in both Inuvik and in Yellowknife and I would like to ask the Minister today what progress has the government made on addressing that motion that this side of the House made last year. Has there been any progress made and when are we going to see residential care and treatment centres finally addressed by this government? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger. During a recent information session with Crack Busters on Monday, there were a few items that the addictions counsellors and Dr. Wheeler, who was there, had brought to our attention that I believe the government should be paying close attention to. I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services a few questions. The first question is what type of public awareness and education is this government doing specifically to address the pitfalls of drug use? Thank...