Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement is on substance abuse programs. Communities all across the Territories are continuously struggling with severe substance abuse problems. I’m sad to say that we’re leading in Canada in many of these areas as this problem progresses. Even more sad to say is that communities are coping with these challenges alone and there is very little support from this government.
I have spoken with the mayor of Tuktoyaktuk. He appreciates a contribution commitment for the years to run their centre. We hope we can start helping the people in similar ways as the House of Hope, which was operating as a place for people to go and gather and talk to counsellors about their addictions and evenings of fun things to interact free of alcohol. Funding is limited in the short term and more is needed. It is unreasonable for the government to expect community governments to contribute considerable amounts of their operational funding.
More than ever we need continuous support since we have, in Tuk, alcohol rationing in the community. We have compared the notes, since 2009 to 2010 that the criminal reports have been cut in half already. I feel alcohol restrictions are working, but we need support from our people to better ourselves. What we can hope for is to keep lobbying for the long-term system that we can work continuously, that we can work and plan our way to the future. With the residential school funding in jeopardy, this government needs to support small, remote communities even more than before.
The substance abuse situation and lack of real support services is in crisis. The Northwest Territories has been one of the highest levels of addiction needs per capita in Canada with one of the lowest expenditures in program assistance. This government continuously criticizes the lack of real initiatives that comes against the war against drugs and other forms of subsistence abuse, especially for our youth.
The government is in an excellent position to take the lead, work with all levels of government, including the federal government and organizations to create meaningful programs and infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, I understand the government continues to spend millions out of the province in support resources.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Mr. Speaker, I see the government continues to spend millions out of province in support resources only for participants to return to their home communities without aftercare. That’s not only not compassionate, it makes no business sense, Mr. Speaker.
The root of all problems comes from these issues: kids not doing well in school, people in an endless cycle of social assistance, and dependencies on drugs and alcohol. The fact the communities lack real support from returning from substance abuse treatment is a shame, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
