Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to speak again today about the need for more access to aftercare services for people in recovery and for those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol.
Mr. Speaker, assessing mental health and addiction issues in the NWT can be tedious and an intimidating experience for our residents. That was true before the pandemic hit, and it's even harder now for the people to access these vital supports during these uncertain times amidst this pandemic.
As I said in my Member's statement last week, it has been reported and researched by many entities, mental health and addiction services during this pandemic have become harder to access and its service availability has been increasingly limited.
Mr. Speaker, with this in mind, it is very welcoming news to hear from our Health Minister that a new wellness recovery centre will be built in Yellowknife by 2024. This is very good news for the people of the NWT and certainly a step in the right direction for the territory, and I support it.
Mr. Speaker, to add to this conversation and to be build upon this good work, I'd like to suggest that our government considers expanding its reach for aftercare and recovery centres in the NWT since we now know that our recovery centre will be built in the central hub of the capital. I think we need to consider building in the future another recovery centre in a different community and region of the NWT.
That said, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to suggest that Fort Smith and the South Slave region be considered as a site for a future recovery centre aftercare facility for the NWT. I think having an aftercare facility in a non-industrialized location and away from the enabling spaces of people's addictions is a good thing. It can be a good thing to remove someone, at least temporarily, from their spaces of active addiction in order to help them break the cycle of their addiction. However, equally vital to breaking the cycles of addiction is a need to provide aftercare and proper follow up for those in recovery.
I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
