Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, given my Member’s statement today, given all across the Territory community government organizations are saying the same thing, that communities’ number one problem is not enough counselling support, will this government commit to a long-term, small, fully functional, around-the-clock, fully equipped addictions centre? We have the nurses but, Mr. Speaker, we don’t have the counsellors in every community. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do have counsellors and wellness workers in most of our communities. Our budget is $6 million to provide for that. Mr. Speaker, it is true, we do not have a treatment centre in every community. If we were to do that, we need to do that as a Legislature and government and through the business plan process. Thank you.
The key word in that reply was “most,” Mr. Speaker. Will the government adapt a duel system that will provide an equal number of days for post-program assistance in their home communities once the person, for example, a participant spends 30 days in an addiction program, will the government give a minimum of 30 days’ professional support in their home communities? Thank you.
The Member inquired about that previously and I did respond to the Member on that. I don’t have it with me, but, Mr. Speaker, I do believe that is possible to have our residents who are coming out of treatment programs and facilities to have aftercare counselling within the community with the staff that we have. So, Mr. Speaker, it’s possible through our system. Thank you.
As mentioned in a previous Member’s statement, during my community visits in Nunakput I speak to the mayors and the community leaders, all identifying the lack of professional and social support as one of the most serious issues in our communities, Mr. Speaker. People are very passionate about these issues and they have lots to say. As a government, we must listen. We must act, Mr. Speaker. So I ask the government to review the current territorial strategy with addictions in the community counselling programs to conduct a comprehensive community-based discussion to develop and to go forward. Thank you.
The Member is correct that especially in his communities they are very passionate about this. The government has listened. The Department of Health and Social Services has invested, actually, the largest increase and largest sum to the community of Tuk that I have made available to help the community with their house that they want to open to work on the addictions issues.
The Member mentioned earlier that we should work with the federal government. I would like to advise the Member that the Department of Health and Social Services has finalized an application to the Mental Health Commission so that we can get some assistance from them to work on a program in his community. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
