Michael Nadli

Obviously, everybody is concerned about public safety, especially at this time of the year. It is winter. We have lots of traffic, a lot of big semi trucks with their heavy loads travelling as far as Edmonton. How will the department tackle this specific road safety concern and enforcement issues inherent to the winter road commercial trucking season, especially around the Deh Cho Bridge?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I made a statement on my constituents raising their concerns on speeding on the Deh Cho Bridge and, of course, we are all concerned about public safety. My questions are to the Minister of Infrastructure: can the Minister explain the role of departmental motor vehicle officers in enforcement of traffic laws, including speeding laws? Mahsi.

Addictions, of course, is a big concern in the NWT. As people contemplate taking steps in terms of bettering their lives and getting away from the whole cycle of addiction abuse, you sometimes come across the fact that it is deep-rooted, and this government needs to be in a position of supporting communities and giving back control to communities.

My question is: have the K'atlodeeche asked GNWT Health and Social Services if they would work with the wellness centre on developing an NWT trauma treatment centre on the reserve?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased, when I attended the opening of the Dene Wellness Centre on the K'atlodeeche First Nations Reserve in January, in the old building of the Nats’ejee K’eh Treatment Centre, with people being very familiar with it. The centre then was a treatment centre for the whole NWT. Now things have changed. The Minister of Health and Social Services stated its ongoing initiatives on land-based mobile addiction treatment and also aftercare for patients who are seeking to sober up in the NWT. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services.

T...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we all know that addiction issues are a serious problem in the Northwest Territories. I am on the Standing Committee on Social Development. Last year, we tabled a report on adult residential addictions treatment facilities. What we found out will not come as a surprise. The NWT faces an uphill battle when it comes to dealing with addictions. For example, our research told us that, in 2015-2016, the NWT had the second-highest per-capita level of alcohol consumption in Canada, not counting bootlegging sales, and our residents were hospitalized due to alcohol...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just from my observations, this department and the GNWT and the community of K'atlodeeche First Nations are taking great, positive steps, and it was the sense of optimism back in the beginning of a new year, 2019, that the building was reopened.

My last question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services. What, in his mind, is the key critical next step to ensuring that the Dene Wellness Centre is fully supported by this government and fully operational? Mahsi.

The Minister, obviously, and his department are engaging with the K'atlodeeche First Nations. I am trying to determine the whole role of the Nats'ejee K'eh Treatment Centre. What are the key steps that the Minister has undertaken to ensure that, eventually, the transfer of the building is given to the K'atlodeeche First Nations?

Mr. Speaker, an advisory council has been established with invites out to groups from every treaty settlement region in the NWT. The Northwest Territories Metis Nation, the GNWT, and the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation are also involved. The centre will be running a recovery, trauma, and depression groups over the next few months.

The building had sat vacant since 2013, when the Territorial government shut the territory's last treatment centre down. The K'atlodeeche First Nation had been actively negotiating with the NWT government to access the building since 2016. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the mover and the seconder for presenting this motion to the floor of the House. Mr. Speaker, I will not support this motion. As a Regular MLA, I try my best to work with everyone. Right now, we are being led by the Premier, Cabinet, and Ministers, who make decisions for all residents of the Northwest Territories. I understand as Regular MLAs along with Cabinet, we are the principals for driving this negotiation process, and periodically we hear from the negotiators in terms of representing the union and the GNWT. That is the negotiation...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to recognize two Pages, but unfortunately they are somewhere in the building. I wanted to recognize two students from Chief Sunrise School, Allora Cayen and Keyarah Yakinneah-Sabourin, and also their chaperone, June Simpson. I would like to welcome them to the House. Mahsi.