David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Michael Miltenberger. Could the Minister outline for us how an individual that is addicted to cocaine or crack cocaine is dealt with? Which processes do they follow and what help is there for them in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wonder if the Minister of Public Works has sent a message to the employees who were involved and the contractor who was involved. This is completely unacceptable, Mr. Chairman, that they could miss a budget by double. It’s completely double what the original budgeted estimate was. If the letters haven’t been sent, I don’t know what the corrective action is or how you take steps to make sure this doesn’t happen again, but it’s completely ridiculous. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to use my Member's statement today to draw some attention to a problem that is plaguing many of our residents. The problem, Mr. Speaker, is addiction.

I recently had the opportunity to help a constituent of mine, who has a very serious addiction to crack cocaine. This individual had no place to turn to address this addiction. Through the Minister’s office we were able to find her a program in the South that will help her try to break this cycle of dependency. I would like to thank the Minister for his help in that. She will get help, but how many other...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The case that I bring up might be hypothetical, but there’s a real case that this government has spent upwards of $10 million on one that involved an employee of the Government of the Northwest Territories and, to be honest, Mr. Chairman, I want to ensure that the government does not have to pay out this type of money in lawsuits and litigation charges in the future. I want to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to cover ourselves off against expenditures like that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The reason that I mention that is I know we’re spending a tremendous amount of money on a legal case that we didn’t have insurance on. I know when I see the words “crime” and “liability” it just leads me to question if we have insurance in this area to cover us against crimes that employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories or the health authorities might make. That begs the question of why we don’t have coverage for other departments and employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories, but I’ve asked this question before and perhaps the Minister...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, October 22, 2004, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that the following persons be approved by the Legislative Assembly as sole adjudicators: Mr. Robert Clark, Mr. Robert Halifax and Mr. Dave Jones, QC. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we weren't really discussing a childcare centre, we're discussing an addictions centre. I think if the Minister adds up the cost that this government pays to send people south and the programming that they receive while they're in the South -- you know, the airfares and everything else that this government spends on addictions and sending people south -- I think they could come up with some dollar figure and try to equate that to operating this facility.

Also, Mr. Speaker, there has been some new money announced for health. Just as a final question to the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the big dollar item is already on the ground there in the Somba K'e Lodge, and it was built as a treatment centre. Maybe the Minister can tell me why or what happened along the road that today we find it empty and not being used as a treatment centre, and it wasn't that long ago, Mr. Speaker. I'm just wondering what the reasons are for it not being used for its intended purpose. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know there’s a program and treatment centre in Hay River that deals with alcohol addiction, but my main concern is for drug addiction. It’s becoming more prevalent every day in society in the Northwest Territories, especially with our young people. As I mentioned, the economy is growing stronger and people have more money; the problem is only going to grow. I’d like to ask the Minister if he will indeed have a look at setting up a dedicated treatment centre for drug addiction in the Northwest Territories. I think it’s something that we have to pay attention to and it...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m just wondering where members might find the actual budget for that new hospital in terms of maintenance, heating fuel and power consumption.