Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement today was adequate resources to counsellors in every community of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, given all across the Territory community governments and organizations are saying the same thing, that the communities’ number one problem is not enough counselling and support, will this government commit to a small, fully functional, around-the-clock, fully equipped addictions centre or just assisting the communities in what they’re trying to do to try to help their own people, instead of the communities taking all this on themselves? Hopefully the government will come on side and help us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the government does support communities. The Department of Health and Social Services is currently in the process of conducting a review of mental health and addiction services across the NWT. The purpose of this review is to examine the services offered in various regions and communities and how well they fit the needs of the residents. The Department of Health has also been working closely with aboriginal organizations to establish community-based, culturally relevant addictions programming options in the Beaufort-Delta region. These pilot projects will be offered as a part of a continuum of services, which includes regular program, Community Counselling Program, and residential addictions treatment, both northern and southern. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As I mentioned in my Member’s statement, community leaders are identifying the lack of professional and social support as one of the most serious issues in the communities. People are very passionate about this issue; they have a lot to say. As a government, we must listen. We must act so that the government is to review the current territorial strategy on addictions and other counselling programs to conduct a comprehensive community-based decision to develop a go-forward plan.
Yes, we are listening to the community leaders and communities. We agree that it is time to act and this is why we are doing a review. As well, Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned previously, I will be releasing the Foundation for Change Action Plan next week, which includes a number of actions related to mental health and addictions.
So, Mr. Speaker, I agree with the Member and I am listening. This is an area that we need to focus our energy on and work hard on, and I look forward to working with the Member to advance this. Thank you.
Just to go back to what the Minister said, too many times, as a government, we go on too many reports and audits and different things. What we have to do is we have to act on it, and I’m happy to hear her say that, but again, I’m going to invite the Minister to my communities as soon as it’s convenient in the next few months. Thank you.
Yes, I want to let the Member know that I am available most of November and December, except for the holidays, to visit Tuktoyaktuk and his other communities, because I have not been able to get there with the Member.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to assure the Member that this is a priority for the department and for the government. We understand that we need to do things differently in delivering mental health and addictions programming, and I commit to the Member that we have an action plan in place and we will work on those. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
