Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the opportunity to talk about addictions today and the lack of government responses. I have never seen a better defense of the status quo by finding more excuses why not to act. Government after government after government continues to find new ways to defend doing nothing. There has been nothing but a solid call from this side of the House, including the Caucus at large, when we have asked for a treatment centre here in the Northwest Territories.
The Yellowknifer wrote an editorial the other day which I completely disagree with. They were taking a shot at the idea about a treatment centre in the North, but they did a little poke at me directly saying, well, not here in Yellowknife. My point about that discussion the other week was the fact that it is so important that we should not obstruct the solution by saying it has to be here. Yes, as a Yellowknife MLA, of course I think a treatment centre needs to be in Yellowknife. I also think one needs to be in Inuvik. I also think Norman Wells deserves treatment opportunities, Fort Smith and other places. It is all about what makes sense. If you are committed to the cause, the important thing should be asked: Why are we doing it and why are we not doing it? Why are we not doing this? The people ask this particular question repeatedly. Why is there not a treatment centre in the Northwest Territories?
This is one of the problems with electing a consensus-style government. If we were a regular-style government, they would come in and say elect us because we will do a treatment centre. If they didn’t, they would throw their butts out the next term.
The people of the Northwest Territories have very little accountability for the calls of the treatment centre because they can’t pinpoint and say this Health Minister is not doing it, this Cabinet Minister is not doing it, this Finance Minister isn’t committing money to this particular initiative. The important factor here is people are calling for action and accountability. This side of the House respects that fact and we want accountability done on this particular project. We have not seen it.
I call for action of this government to finally hear the relentless calls of this Assembly, the relentless calls of the people of the Northwest Territories and finally do something for addictions. Time for excuses has come to an end. I cannot say it enough, but I will say it again, time for excuses has come to an end. The people of the Northwest Territories, the people on this side of the House, the people we care about out there need a response and darn well deserve one. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
