Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to raise the issue of the Norman Wells liquor store restrictions that were lifted on February 1st. This is a life and death issue for my people in the Sahtu. Historically, when we lifted the restriction in the 1970s, several people in the Sahtu communities died because of the outcomes of alcohol. In addition to the other causes we know about, more violence and more crimes in the homes in the communities, suicides, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, liver problems and other alcohol-related deaths and injuries due to drinking.
We had people who couldn’t get jobs, who couldn’t keep jobs. We had students who were missing school because of parents drinking. We had elders who were living in fear of their children and grandchildren. We had a wild time when the restrictions were lifted. Then the people aborted to put a restriction on.
Today we ask where is the balance for people who want the restrictions removed, only for reasons of convenience. For the people who want the restrictions to stay is a matter of health and well-being and life and death, yet it is an inconvenience to go back to the store a few more times to get what you want for a New Year’s party or a birthday party. People say watching your loved ones who can be hurt, who can die from alcohol is also an inconvenience. So where is the balance?
We don’t have treatment programs in the Sahtu; we don’t have any detox centres in the Sahtu or any type of service like that. People in the Sahtu have spoken, they’ve said they want on-the-land treatment programs because people are from the land and that’s where they want to do their healing. We don’t have enough police services to enforce restrictions in other communities, and also we’re limited in the way we do the search and seizure provisions under the Charter. All of those things changed how people buy alcohol at this time – you know, limited – is really an effective tool, the least effective tool that we have.
We are seeking a regional approach that makes sense for the Sahtu. A regional approach may make sense in other areas in the North, but in the Sahtu it is different.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
A regional approach might not make sense in other areas of the Northwest Territories but it makes sense in the Sahtu. Five isolated communities, none which is a large centre. Norman Wells has about 30 percent of the regional population, but they have been given the decision-making power for 100 percent of the regional population. The Sahtu communities only have highway access during the short winter season and the rest of the time are limited to travel by air and water. There are no options to drive down the highway to buy alcohol in large centres like Whitehorse or Alberta. Most of the alcohol is coming from Norman Wells. Norman Wells has about 2 percent of the NWT population and 5 percent of the liquor sales. Right there it tells you something.
From 2010 to 2011, liquor sales in the Norman Wells store was $2.1 million. I’m afraid of what they may see for 2012-13 if the sales go unrestricted. I ask the government if they would work with me to see a regional approach to deal with this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
