Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on the need for a professional treatment centre here in the Northwest Territories, and I’m with my colleagues, I think that’s one of the things that we have been hearing from our constituents as well. I don’t know why the Minister has to hear it again.
So I’d like to ask the Minister what kind of strategy or plan does he have for giving us a modern addictions treatment facility that includes detoxification. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No plan at this time to do that, because we think the communities may say something different. Initially, although I haven’t visited all 33 communities – I have visited 12 communities in my role as Health and Social Services Minister – initially that’s not what they’re saying. Initially what the people are saying, the elders want to go on the land with the people, with the youth and they think that’s going to address their issue. The communities where the greatest impact exists, communities where there’s low employment, tremendous social impacts in the communities from alcohol, a high percentage of issues in the community is a result of addictions. They’re the ones that are saying we don’t necessarily want to travel somewhere else for treatment. We want to heal on the land with our own people.
So there may be no plan to build a treatment centre, no plans of building an addictions centre, we don’t know. There may be a plan that comes out of Yellowknife that says that is what is needed to address the issues here, but that may not be something that the small communities want. Thank you.
Thank you. He spoke for about five minutes, but I think he said no.
I’d like to ask the Minister, is a treatment centre for the Northwest Territories even on the 20-year capital plan, the capital needs assessment. Thank you very much.
Thank you. We have one not only on the books, it actually exists. But is there a plan for another treatment facility on the books? There isn’t. There is no plan at this time within the 20-year assessment of our capital needs for a treatment centre. Thank you.
Thank you very much. I think that it doesn’t commit us to just put it on the capital plan. Is the Minister willing to do that? Because it is a need, it’s going to be a future need because we need a good modern treatment facility that includes detoxification. Making people wait 30 days, as one of the Members spoke about earlier, it’s just not doing it, because the need is immediate when you want treatment from addictions and someone that is suffering cannot wait 30 days.
With a modern facility, I’d like to ask the Minister, is he willing to at least discuss it with his Cabinet colleagues and put it on the 20-year needs assessment. Thank you.
Yes, I am willing to discuss the possibility of a treatment centre with my Cabinet colleagues. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Now is the Minister willing to move the capital plan up? Thank you.
---Laughter
Again, it’s not my decision whether or not that thing goes into the capital plan. It’s a joint decision by this side of the House and that side of the House. If I get it into a 20-year assessment, then the next step is up to this House.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.
