Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again there is only one social worker in Fort Liard. There are two positions but one is vacant. When this happens, it is very stressful for the remaining social worker and when she’s away, the community is usually without help.
The social workers provide an essential service, helping families in times of hardship, need, and great stress. Such times are often hard on children too. We all know that sinking feeling that occurs when a whole bunch of things go wrong all at once. Unfortunately, there have been many deaths in Fort Liard this year and that is how people in the community are feeling.
For such a small community, there is a lot of crime and drinking. To me, these are signs of a community’s health and we should heed them. It is no time to be short a social worker.
Help for people struggling with mental health and addictions is a high priority of our government. I fully agree with that. What I don’t agree with is a bunch of words that are not backed up with action.
The lack of social workers in Fort Liard should be considered an emergency. If permanent staff cannot be found right away, the position should be filled on a temporary basis using resources from elsewhere. If this was done even for a month at a time, it would be a great help to that community.
I mentioned that children are feeling the effects of the recent tragedies in the community. The same can be said for mothers with very young children. Early childhood development is another priority of our government. I see that some communities have the Healthy Family Program, which has been a success.
Earlier this year, Members on this side of the House successfully persuaded our Cabinet colleagues to increase the budget for early childhood programs in Education. I was proud to help make that happen, because it was done for the good of the people across the Northwest Territories. That is supposed to include Fort Liard and all Nahendeh communities. I look forward to seeing more early childhood programs in all Nahendeh communities, especially Fort Liard.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
