Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The municipality of Norman Wells held a liquor restriction vote and it was passed some time ago. On February 1st the Town of Norman Wells, the liquor store there will be open to restriction, meaning no restriction, meaning that anybody that comes into the liquor store can purchase liquor.
The effects of liquor and alcohol in our communities is devastating, especially to a small community. I want to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services to help us deal with the impact of alcohol and drugs and other issues that are going to be a problem, potentially hurtful for our people. The Minister talked about on-the-land treatment programs and I want to ask the Minister if he could elaborate a little more for the people in my region as how can the community, the Sahtu region benefit from this statement for having drug and alcohol treatment programs on the land.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I toured Sahtu with the Member. He is very right; there are many, many people in the community who were unhappy with the decision to have changes to how much alcohol can be purchased at a liquor store in the communities that we attended. The communities said they were going to feel the repercussions and they wanted to know how they could get more money for on-the-land treatment programs. I indicated to them that at this point we have, through the Sahtu Health and Social Services Authority, $25,000 earmarked for each community to start an on-the-land treatment program. They indicated that wasn’t enough. I said I would review it upon my return to Yellowknife.
I want to say publicly I really appreciate the Minister taking time out of his busy schedule to visit the people in the Sahtu and hear face to face as to what needs to happen on certain issues. That’s really appreciated of this government to get the Ministers into our community.
Now, the Minister indicated to me that he will see when he gets back to Yellowknife how he can work with his colleagues to see what type of support he can get to enhance the on-the-land treatment program. It would be much appreciated. Can the Minister tell me any more than what he has already told the people in the Sahtu about this program?
Since our tour, other than having a discussion with the department on looking at the expansion of that on-the-land treatment program, I know that in the community of Tulita when I mentioned that immediately in the public meeting, there was an indication that that wasn’t enough, that they would just get started and then the program would be over. I had said – I threw out a number in the meeting – would doubling it be good, and someone said no, triple the budget and we can do something to help our people heal on the land.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Colleagues, I would like to go back to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Bromley.
