David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight has adopted as its vision "a strong, effective consensus government that has the confidence of the people of the NWT;"

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories strategic plan identifies enhancing the fiscal responsibility, effectiveness and credibility of governments through openness and transparency as a core value;

AND WHEREAS the Financial Administration Act requires that all Members of the Legislative Assembly be given 14 days' notice in advance of the Financial Management Board recommending...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to recognize one of the Pages from my constituency, Ms. Tessa Moss. Also, I would like to thank all the Pages for their hard work here over the last few weeks.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, when he talks of having a look at the facilities that are currently in place, what is his intention on getting a withdrawal management unit? To me, that only makes sense, Mr. Speaker, and I would like to ask the Minister, when is the withdrawal management unit going to be set up here so that addicts have somewhere to turn? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services, the Honourable Michael Miltenberger. I go back to my Member's statement when I spoke of coroner's jury recommendations on the fact that the Northwest Territories and the city of Yellowknife needs a medical detox facility. I don’t know if the government and the Minister do not pay heed to coroner's juries or Regular Members, and I know it was an issue in the 14th Assembly and I know it’s an issue in the 15th Assembly, Mr. Speaker. I am wondering what it is going to take for the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about the need for a medical detox facility in Yellowknife. I’d like to talk about this subject because I don’t want Archie Tsetta and Vawn Ruthven, who are two of hundreds of northerners who struggled with drug and alcohol addiction problems, to have died in vain. Eighteen months ago, coroner's juries in both Ruthven’s and Tsetta’s case called for a medical detox facility, but the Minister of Health and Social Services has failed to respond to those recommendations. In response to a report calling again for a new addictions strategy...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we all ran for office a lot of the catch phrases that we heard of accountability, transparency, responsibility, Mr. Speaker, are part of the crux of this motion that’s before us today. It goes back to the expenditure of $3.4 million of public funds that, as Regular Members, we never had a chance to debate that publicly, and to me that’s not right. How we correct that right is probably a motion like the one that’s before us today. We did have some briefings -- to the government’s credit they did brief us -- but I’d like to say there was never an...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, support the motion that’s before us today. I can’t speak about the drug situation and the need for addiction treatment in Inuvik, but certainly I am supportive of that happening and I know the people of Inuvik would be in support of that happening. I am more in touch with what is happening here in Yellowknife, being a Yellowknife Member.

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to mention the fact that -- and Mr. Yakeleya referred to it as well -- when you start adding up what it costs to send people south, what it’s costing the Government of the Northwest...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the treatment centre in Yellowknife closed in 1999. It has been an issue since the closure of that treatment centre, Mr. Speaker. I know the Minister welcomes a debate, but this was brought up two, three and four years ago, and still the government hasn’t addressed the need for a treatment centre. If there is a will on this side of the House, Mr. Speaker, to look at a treatment centre for Yellowknife, I am wondering if the Minister will be responsive and will see to that happening. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister how come the Northwest Territories does not have a withdrawal management unit currently in place and, Mr. Speaker, if I could, what specifically, if a person is addicted to crack cocaine, are their alternatives in seeking treatment in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.