Debates of March 8, 2005 (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to talk about mental health and mental illnesses, Mr. Speaker. In our modern society, mental illnesses and disabilities are viewed a lot differently today than they were even a few decades ago. We see this in many different ways, Mr. Speaker, in our own homes, in our hospitals and community care centres, in courts and legislatures. We are dealing with this terrible affliction more progressively and compassionately. There is, through the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Human Rights Acts, a much greater emphasis on the individual’s autonomy.

The NWT’s Mental Health Act, Mr. Speaker, was first developed in 1988 and has since been amended in some ways over the last 17 years. Mr. Speaker, the Mental Health Act is a powerful piece of legislation because it can take away from an individual their right to have control over their own lives. It also puts a great onus on those medical and legal professionals, Mr. Speaker, who may be compelled to do this in some circumstances.

Mr. Speaker, our Mental Health Act is quite out of date with a lot of the more modern thinking and approaches to how we should be treating the occurrence of mental illness and disability as legislators. There is, of course, the ever present influence of alcohol, but another shift in the way we need to be looking at this is a disturbing increase in the availability and the impact of street drugs. These are things that are in the medical and the court system now that just weren’t there even a few years ago. I know, for the professionals who have to deal with this, it often raises questions for them. Do they have to deal with the situation in a medical sense, or is it perhaps a police or social issue? This is why, Mr. Speaker, I believe our Mental Health Act needs to be revised. I will be asking the Minister later on today what plans we have for addressing this.

---Applause