Michael Nadli

Mr. Speaker, I think my colleagues would agree with me that the measurement that we use on this side of this House is to have more success stories of people being able to arrive at a point where they enjoy sobriety. It is 85 percent of crimes committed that are related to alcohol or drugs. What is Health’s role in ensuring that treatment is available for inmates in the correctional facilities? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In communities there are very few resources in terms of trying to develop programs and at least sustain and maintain them so that we help each other. The questions I have are for the Minister. It is a known reality that detox centres are very far and few between. At the community level, when people take that very ultimate step, the big step for them is a cry for help, asking for help.

Can the Health Minister describe what typically happens when someone goes to the nursing station and says they want to quit drinking? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, rise on this occasion to support the motion. I think we all can safely say that we have brothers and sisters that are going through some problems and, of course, in our communities we likely see it every day. It’s an affliction and that is something that gravely affects our society in this day and age, especially as we’re going towards the future as we take on challenges and also, at the same time trying to work with each other, it becomes a very big issue.

Although, perhaps in some instances alcohol and drug addiction is an individual decision that a person has...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the outset of the 17th Assembly, something that I remember very clearly is that there was a very strong, common theme that we wanted to undertake programs and services that dealt upon preventative steps to ensure that people were leading healthy lifestyles. At the same time, we wanted to ensure that the health care system was in the position to provide information to people so that, in the long run, they would lead healthier lives. What is Health doing to make sure that young people in school understand the impacts of the dangers of alcohol abuse? Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, we have treatment centres, of course, in the NWT. We have very limited access to detox centres, especially at ground level. How do we track the success rate of our alcohol and drug treatment programs? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Alcohol is the intoxicating chemical in beer, wine and spirits. It is a little harder to find drugs, but one definition is a narcotic, hallucinogen or stimulant, especially one causing addiction. Of course, besides their misuse as intoxicants, alcohol and drugs have many other uses in our society including medicines and painkillers.

The sale of alcohol alone brings very good money to this government. In 2011 liquor sales topped $45 million. Of that, more than $28 million was profit. Mr. Speaker, $45 million in sales is more than $1,000 per man, woman and child in this...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What is being done in small communities to raise the awareness about being tested for diabetes?

I think it’s quite clear that we do have a very serious matter in terms of diabetes affecting mostly Aboriginal communities and people. So would the Health Minister arrange for diabetes patients in Fort Providence to have a choice of receiving care either in Hay River or Yellowknife? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. November is Diabetes Month, but every month is Diabetes Month for 2,000 or 3,000 of our residents. Most of us, maybe all of us, know someone who struggles to manage their diabetes. People with this disease do not properly absorb sugars and starches from their blood. They typically suffer from severe thirst and produce a lot of urine. It is really important to detect diabetes early on because it is much easier to manage with exercise and a healthy diet. If diabetes is not managed, blindness and even death can result.

Diabetes is a relatively new disease among Aboriginal...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise on this occasion to also speak in favour of this motion. I think in small communities it is very hard just getting by, especially when circumstances have you being a single mother with children to look after. Unfortunately, the system sometimes doesn’t work for people that struggle. Sometimes we need to make a decision to respond to the needs of people.

In this case, I applaud the mover and the seconder on this motion for taking the initiative and the stand, and being the voice of people that really need assistance on this case. With that, I support this motion...