Debates of October 28, 2004 (day 30)

Mr. Speaker…(English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to what I consider to be a failing on the part of this government. I refer to the situation regarding alcohol and drug counselling services in the community of Fort Liard. The point I wish to make is there are no alcohol and drug counsellors in Fort Liard.

Shame, shame.

Until a short time ago, those services were available. There was a counsellor working in the community who was hired by the band through a program sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Services. The department, in an effort to consolidate alcohol and drug programs, decided to cut the funding. The intent was to hire a new counsellor who would be a departmental employee and thereby standardize their service across the NWT. At the time the department first proposed the move, it created a lot of controversy amongst community residents. People were concerned about losing a valuable resource, a counsellor whom they knew and who knew them, in exchange for an unknown entity.

Well, the department finally made its move. Funding to the program was cut, the counsellor closed up shop and no one has been hired to replace him. The very thing people were afraid would happen has happened: they lost their alcohol and drug counsellor.

Mr. Speaker, we presume this is only a temporary situation, that one day the community will see another counsellor; that is what has been promised. But, Mr. Speaker, the community was also promised there would be a smooth transition and continuity in service as the government made changes to the program, and that didn’t happen. I find that inexcusable, and I will be asking the Minister responsible to account for this during question period, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

---Applause