Mr. Speaker, the department sees that as probably the number one gap as we talked to other Members about service gaps. That is detoxification. Detoxification is a program. It is not a treatment. We don’t have an actual facility for individuals to go to detoxify. However, it is a program that we would work on.

We see that as a service gap. We’re not sure that we’re going to build infrastructure around trying to work on detox, but rather develop some programs that will be used to help people to detoxify before going for treatment. Thank you.

[English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to pass my condolences on to the family of Alphonse King, who died way too soon. I’m sure that he will be sadly missed by his entire family in Fort Resolution.

I don’t think the counsellors are going into the day shelter to counsel the people that are there, but there are services available in the community. What I’m saying is that we can advise the people that are there, that are staying there during the day, the individuals or the organization that’s running the shelter, we can provide them information on what counselling services are available, and they can provide that information to the people that are resident there during the day.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. At the appropriate time today, I will table our action plan, “A Shared Path Towards Wellness – Mental Health and Addictions, 2012-2015.”

The new action plan will help improve mental health and reduce addiction in the NWT. A Shared Path Towards Wellness will create a more efficient system that will allow residents to receive assessment, treatment and support services when and where they need them. The three-year action plan builds on the existing system and incorporates innovative ideas from our stakeholders to better coordinate and integrate our services.

The action plan...

The department does not support public drinking. This is not supposed to be a drinking establishment. It was some place to provide a day shelter for individuals that had nowhere else to go during the day. If this is officially a complaint that people are drinking in the day shelter, I will contact the department, the department will make contact with the RCMP and the RCMP can check it out. Thank you.

We haven’t engaged the federal government in this area at this time because this is still going through the budget process. As soon as the budget process is through, I think we would be… As the Minister responsible for Seniors, I know that we are having an FPT meeting and I’m sure that will be one of the topics coming up. If not, I could ensure the Member that I will engage the other federal Minister responsible for Seniors to see how that is going to impact the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know recently that a seniors handbook was published which lays out the programs from the various departments. For Health and Social Services, we are offering things in the health area. We offer home care for independent living, long-term care for elders and seniors that need it, and also for other health programs and extended health benefits which provide prescription drugs, medical travel, medical supplies, appliances, prostheses, hearing aids, dental services and eye glasses.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “A Shared Path Towards Wellness: Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan, June 2012.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

At this time their plan is to move our medevacs to the international airport. At this time there is no plan to continue to keep a strip open at the Municipal Airport. However, like I have indicated, our deputy minister is continuing to have discussions to see if that is a possibility. They are currently using some flights that are going to the international airport as a backup for the Municipal Airport, and it’s been working fine. So far it seems like individuals have a fear that the international airport is a long way out. I think it’s about 45 minutes, and that could mean a matter of life or...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are slowly expanding long-term care in the territory. Right now we are increasing long-term care in the Tlicho region by nine beds, or I think 10 beds, going from an eight-bed facility to an 18-bed facility. We’re expanding regionally again in the Sahtu by providing an 18-bed long-term care facility. Unfortunately, in the plans we don’t have an additional long-term care facility going into the Mackenzie Delta. We have one in Inuvik, as I indicated, but we don’t have a plan to build a long-term care facility in the Mackenzie Delta. So we’ll have to work with Health...