Debates of October 23, 2006 (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my statement, I talked about the alcohol and drug issues in the Northwest Territories. My question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services, the Honourable Floyd Roland, in terms of the issue the communities want to look at regarding mobile alcohol and drug treatment programs that are community based, regionally adapted, that would serve not only the individual but the families as a whole to have mobile family treatment centres in our communities. Would the government consider looking at that option in terms of best effectively working with the families in this issue of alcohol abuse?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 157-15(5): Mobile Alcohol And Drug Treatment Centres

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The issue of drug and alcohol treatment programs in the Northwest Territories is one that has concerned us for quite some time. As long as I have been a Member of the Legislative Assembly, the issue has come up time and again. The Department of Health and Social Services, over a number of years, has tried to adjust its programming to fit the criteria for northern families and individuals. In this situation I know the department has undergone a review of how it provides programs and, with the previous efforts of the previous Minister, things are in the works to change. I would have to look at this particular avenue, what’s entailed in it, what direction we would like to go in and see how that fits with the plans that are in place. As of yet, I think Members would realize that I need to get some of that detail from the department and gladly look at it, initially at least. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 157-15(5): Mobile Alcohol And Drug Treatment Centres

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of alcohol and drug treatment programs comes up almost on a weekly basis in our communities where children are running around and families are disrupted by the abuse of alcohol and drugs now. The complexity of drugs now in the Northwest Territories makes it really hard. So in terms of the Minister catching up on some of the issues here in terms of Nats’ejee K’eh, in terms of other treatment programs, we need to have specialized treatment programs. I am looking for the option for the Minister to come to this side to our region and look at mobile treatment centres. It’s a good option. The funding seems to be okay. We can have an option to look at it, almost to the point where we could look at piloting such a program in the region as the Minister of Justice has done with the correctional institute. Can I ask the Minister to come back to the table with that type of flexibility? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 157-15(5): Mobile Alcohol And Drug Treatment Centres

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the Member’s statement he made a number of comments on the issue we face in the Northwest Territories and what we need to do as a government; provide the tools. Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, in this area of programming -- and I can speak from experience -- it starts at home with the individual. If you want real change, it has to start at that level. As a government, we have to have the necessary tools in place to ensure that people can deal with the issues that are before them. In this specific case, I would have to get up to speed as to where the department is in the area of alcohol and drug programs. I know in the past, we have looked at a mobile treatment plan. I have to see if that is still in the works and how effective that was. Once I have that information, then I would be able to look into it a little further. At this point, I don’t feel I can give a serious commitment as to what needs to be done. Once I get further updated, then I can respond in a more appropriate manner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree with the Minister 100 percent; it starts with us. We have to start taking some ownership and responsibility. That’s what the community has been asking for for a number of years. They want to take the responsibility. We have the Department of Housing to help out. We have the Department of Education that can help out. We are looking at a comprehensive program, not just the individual where they are taking from the community into Nats’ejee K’eh or some other treatment centres…

Do you have a question, Mr. Yakeleya?

Supplementary To Question 157-15(5): Mobile Alcohol And Drug Treatment Centres

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Can he look at these types of options and come back to my question in terms of yes, we can do this, it’s feasible and it can get done. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 157-15(5): Mobile Alcohol And Drug Treatment Centres

As I stated earlier, once I get up to speed in the area of particular programs in the drug and alcohol area, if we are working on that initiative, I would gladly sit down with the Member and look at what options are there, what plans may come up, and work with the Social Programs committee in this area as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 157-15(5): Mobile Alcohol And Drug Treatment Centres

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What are the plans of the Department of Health and Social Services in light of the newspaper or CBC report in terms of Nats’ejee K’eh? Where will people go?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 157-15(5): Mobile Alcohol And Drug Treatment Centres

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the plans are almost completed as we go through this process, but, as I stated earlier, I need to meet with the departments and get some indication as to where they are with the work. At that point, we would be prepared to sit down with Members. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Question 158-15(5): Highway No. 5 - Chipsealing Project

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask a number of questions to the Minister of Transportation and it’s with regard to a road issue that is very dear to the people of Thebacha and Fort Smith. That is the incomplete chipsealing of Highway No. 5 from Fort Smith to Hay River.

This has now been incomplete for years. There has been some work done. They put it on very thinly, the last application, almost with a butter knife. It is breaking up as they put it down. There is another significant track that’s unpaved and it goes through the park. I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider approaching Parks Canada, who I understand as well has an infrastructure budget and is prepared to consider those types of projects that go through their parks, as something they are possibly interested in cost sharing. I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider contacting parks in that regard. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 158-15(5): Highway No. 5 - Chipsealing

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we will do that.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 158-15(5): Highway No. 5 - Chipsealing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister please indicate to the House what kind of time frame he would be able to, in the next two weeks or so, have his officials draft a letter for his signature? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 158-15(5): Highway No. 5 - Chipsealing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department does have a condition rating of all the highways in the Northwest Territories including Highway No. 5. In our rating, Highway No. 5 has come back as a highway that is safe and reliable. There are some areas that we have included for attention in terms of chipseal. There are two sections is particular that we are looking at. We will certainly take the recommendation from the honourable Member to speak to the parks people and see if we can look at some cost-sharing initiatives. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 158-15(5): Highway No. 5 - Chipsealing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that commitment. If the Minister could just indicate the time frame that he would be looking at being able to get his officials to have that letter drafted for his signature, it would be of great comfort to the constituents of Thebacha. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 158-15(5): Highway No. 5 - Chipsealing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will commit to having that letter drafted within the next couple of weeks and have it sent out. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 158-15(5): Highway No. 5 - Chipsealing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to ask the Minister if he would commit to the involvement of his staff regionally, because we are going to be sitting down with the new parks superintendent and, of course, the band and the Metis president. This is a very important issue to Mayor Martselos to talk about how we could possibly do this at the regional level as well. Would he commit to his staff being involved when that meeting is set up? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 158-15(5): Highway No. 5 - Chipsealing

Mr. Speaker, we certainly will involve our regional staff in our discussions with parks. We will also consult with them as to any prior discussion that may have been held and be able to relay that information to the Member. Thank you.