Mr. Speaker, my question is in response to the Premier’s answers to questions asked by Mr. Hawkins in regard to the reductions that are coming forward, and also reductions in positions, programs and services. I’d like to make it clear to the Premier, as a Member who represents small aboriginal communities that are lacking basic programs and services from this government because of vacant positions that haven’t been filled for years in and years out….Yet we are again going through the cuts when these communities haven’t recovered from the cuts of the 13th Assembly.
I think it’s important as a government that we ensure that the fundamental programs and services that are required by all residents of the Northwest Territories are delivered through ways of mental health positions, alcohol and drug positions, income support positions, policing and whatnot. But yet, Mr. Speaker, these aboriginal communities that are living in poverty continue year after year to struggle with the basic programs and services we take for granted. I think, as a government, we have a responsibility to ensure that these cuts do not affect those communities that don’t even have the basic programs and services.
Mr. Speaker, I think it’s crucial that we as government, and as a nation of Canada, identify the crisis that aboriginal communities are in. One of the fundamental problems they’re facing is a lack of basic programs and services in their communities because of the isolation and the conditions of trying to recruit and hire professions to provide programs and services in those communities. It’s a problem we face right across the Territories, especially in isolated communities where we don’t have staff housing — which was cut in the 13th Assembly — where we don’t have policing to give security to the mental health worker or nurse in that community to feel safe. Knowing it is a problem, yet here we go again by cutting programs and services and people by way of a reduction program that’s going to be implemented by this government.
Mr. Speaker, I for one feel that as government we have a fiduciary obligation to ensure that aboriginal people receive all programs and services that are basically provided to all other Canadians. So at the appropriate time, I will be asking the Premier a question on this matter.
