Debates of June 2, 2006 (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I spoke about the drug and alcohol programs in the Northwest Territories and I want to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, has his department reviewed the situation of the drug and alcohol treatment programs and would his department consider a project-by-project of treatment programs on the land versus the residential units that he has now in the Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 37-15(5): Consideration For “On- The-Land” Alcohol And Drug Treatment Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the next week or so we're going to be finalizing and sending out a document for feedback in regards to next steps when it comes to alcohol and drug treatment and mental health treatment, as well. We'll be looking for feedback from the Members. We'll be sending it out far and wide across the land, to authorities, to chiefs and band councils and to cover all the whole spectrum of stakeholders. As well, if the Member has a specific suggestion or proposal he'd like to make, we're always prepared to, as the Member knows, work with him to see what is possible. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 37-15(5): Consideration For “On-The-Land” Alcohol And Drug Treatment Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister's offer in terms of offering some suggestions to proposals. He's being quite open about receiving them. I want to know now the next steps in terms of advising the stakeholders. It seems to me, Mr. Speaker, that during the Joint Review Panel hearings that communities have indicated that alcohol and drug treatment is the number one issue. We heard it over and over again. So I'm trying to understand why do another community consultation with the stakeholders? We know what it is. We read in the newspaper on a weekly basis on the crimes that are committed by using alcohol and drugs. So I think if the Minister is prepared to move to a next step, we'll get the programs in the communities on the land. So I want to ask the Minister would he again look at the reason for going back into the communities to talk to the stakeholders. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 37-15(5): Consideration For “On-The-Land” Alcohol And Drug Treatment Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the Member's statement yesterday he pointed out very clearly the debate between community services and enhancing those as opposed to building and focussing a lot, or almost extensively on the type of residential facilities and anywhere in between, as the discussion has unfolded. That's part of the issue that we're looking at. Clearly where we're up and down the valley, there's concern about the impending development of the proposed pipeline. We also have to sit down, now that we know for sure that there's been a commitment to the $500 million that is going to flow through the aboriginal governments and to the affected pipeline communities, to be able to sit down with them to look at how we pool our resources with those resources and determine what's the best way to move forward on a number of issues. If in fact at the end after these discussions, the decision is that we're going to enhance in a specific way alcohol and drug treatment services, then we will be looking at working closely with all the community groups, how that is done, keeping in mind that that $500 million is one-time money. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 37-15(5): Consideration For “On-The-Land” Alcohol And Drug Treatment Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the $500 million has been committed. Residential school money is out, or shortly will be coming out. The communities want drug and alcohol programs in their communities. Tl'oondih has as good program in Fort McPherson. There's good programs down the Mackenzie Valley. Let's get the programs into communities right now. Let's not do any more consultation. Get the programs in there. There's workers that need the help and their families need help, so let's not do any more consultation. Get the programs in the communities. So I'll ask the Minister again, let's quit the consultation and let's have some action from this department to put programs in the communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 37-15(5): Consideration For “On-The-Land” Alcohol And Drug Treatment Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll make sure I highlight that point about don't consult any more and get down to work when the Member next comes forward. Mr. Speaker, we have made a significant investment with dozens and dozens of positions and wellness workers and mental health workers across the land. We have made significant investments and we're going to continue to do that. The Member has stood up in this House and said let's take another approach with some on-the-land programs and a concept that he has contributed about 20 words to. I'm saying if the Member has a specific proposal and some detail that we can look at, tell us what it is and we'll be happy to sit down and look at it, and we'll also meet with the regions and communities and look at how that $500 million can be added to what we're doing to enhance services. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister's to not consult…

A technical difficulty here, Mr. Yakeleya. Your mike is not working, so just hold on a moment. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you. I will raise my voice in the House. I don’t have to? Thank you.

Just hold a moment, Mr. Yakeleya. We seem to have a technical difficulty here. It’s not a matter of not being able to hear, it’s just your mike is not working.

Hello? Hello?

I guess your mike is working. Go ahead, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 37-15(5): Consideration For “On-The-Land” Alcohol And Drug Treatment Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Believe me, the lights are on on this issue.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Minister again, and I will make this very clear. Please do not consult. We have studies, mountains and mountains of studies of this program, this issue. Do not consult. Get the action, get the money. Prime example, the Minister of Justice has a pilot project of a wilderness camp in Fort Good Hope. It’s dynamite. It’s working good. Let’s get started. Let’s hammer out the issues later on as they come about. Can the people in Sahtu or…Let’s get a pilot project on. Bring the families together through a drug and alcohol treatment program, northern-based, aboriginal sensitive and open to everybody. Thank you.