Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On June 12, 2012, the Minister of Health and Social Services tabled the Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan 2012-2015. One year later, June 3, 2013, the Minister’s Forum on Addiction and Community Wellness Healing Voices report was tabled.
A year ago, as the Minister was setting up this forum, I rose in this House and I complained about the lack of action on the issue of addictions by the Department of Health and Social Services. I felt that the Minister should be taking action, not consulting. Now, one year later, I’m again complaining about the lack of action on addictions and community wellness.
Five months ago a very comprehensive forum report was received. It makes 33 primary recommendations and 34 secondary recommendations. But since June, what has the Health and Social Services department put in place to work on addictions problems, to take action on some of these 67 recommendations? Not much, from what I can tell.
Well, there has been some action. The Minister has closed the only treatment centre in the NWT, but we have yet to see any northern treatment programs to replace what has been lost, even though those treatment programs are called for in the forum report.
Addictions, drugs and alcohol are huge afflictions for our territory. We all know that. We knew that a year and a half ago when the 2012-15 action plan was tabled. We knew it a year ago when the Minister’s Forum was set up. We knew it five months ago when the forum results were tabled, and we know it now as Members all speak to the problem. What has changed in the last 18 months? What progress has been made to attack the issue of addictions?
It’s well known that our jails are mostly populated by inmates who are there because their addictions led them to break the law. It’s well known that family violence in the NWT is associated with, and the result of, alcohol and drug abuse. I’ve previously called alcohol a scourge on NWT society. It still is. Unfortunately, I see little improvement in alcohol and drug treatment and prevention programs from the first time I stood in this House to address the issue.
As we will hear later today, the Standing Committee on Government Operations, while consulting on the Liquor Act, heard story after story of the negative impact of alcohol and drugs on Sahtu communities. Everywhere in the NWT, our residents are asking for help with the effect of addictions on their lives.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Everywhere in the NWT our residents are asking for help with the effect of addictions on their lives. What is the government actually doing about this? Very little, from what I can see. We have to stop talking and start doing.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.
