Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in recent years, the Northwest Territories has seen a dramatic increase in drug-related crimes that is affecting our small communities like never before. The demand for these drugs keeps increasing and employment opportunities and access to vital services continues to decrease. We need a long-term solution to address concurrent housing and health crisis as well as the continued burden of intergenerational trauma has on Indigenous families, and solving these problems are no easy task. There are, however, short-term solutions that are becoming increasingly clear. Community leaders have long been advocating for enhanced public safety and security measures. Community leaders have reached out to me to seek funding for the installation of security cameras and the hiring of security guards in the community to monitor prevalent illicit activity such as acts of violence, drug dealing, and break-ins. My constituents are also eager to work together to create signage indicating that drug trades are not welcome in their neighbourhood and in the community.
I asked the MACA Minister earlier this year to listen to these requests for additional funding but, unfortunately, the department only pointed to their previously allocated annual funding. Considering our drug crisis, we should not be asking our small communities to stretch their dollars any further and potentially underfund our other services that must be provided in order to cope with these extraordinary circumstances. Our communities have limited resources already, and the residents are all only becoming more vulnerable by the day. By allocating more funds for security cameras and security guards, we can deter criminal activity providing valuable evidence when incidents occur and foster a greater sense of public safety amongst residents. Additionally, the presence of trained security guards will not only enhance physical safety but also promote community engagement and trust. They are sick and tired of feeling hopelessness while these illicit activities take place every night destroying the health and wealth of their community, family, and friends. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.
