Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this afternoon are for Mr. Miltenberger, the Minister for Health and Social Services, concerning the continuing saga of the potential, alleged kind of relocation of the TTC. Mr. Speaker, over the past number of years the GNWT has had a dismal record of residential programs for those suffering from addictions and mental disorders. In part this is because we have not been establishing the services where they are most needed, let alone, Mr. Speaker, because so many of them have failed to keep their doors open. The Minister himself has said in this Assembly that it is our duty to provide our services, whatever those services may be, as close as possible to the people who need them. Mr. Speaker, why is the Minister still insisting that Yellowknife, where half the population of the NWT lives, should actually lose yet another of these badly needed programs? Mr. Speaker, thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
Return To Question 2-15(5): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, let me restate once again for the record that Yellowknife is not losing access to any service. It will be available across the lake in Hay River the same as services in Yellowknife are available to all people who have to fly into Yellowknife from wherever they may live. It’s a very simple situation. There is no loss of service to the people of Yellowknife. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.
Supplementary To Question 2-15(5): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Mr. Speaker, while the Minister is adamant about moving this program, even in the midst of the confusion and uncertainty about how it is going to be done, will he do what the 700 people who signed this petition asked for, and that was to continue this service in Yellowknife? Why does it have to be abandoned?
Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 2-15(5): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, nothing is being abandoned and nobody is being abandoned. The service will continue to be provided and in a community that has the skills and ability and the workforce to do that, and that’s in Hay River. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.
Supplementary To Question 2-15(5): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
You know, Mr. Speaker, I and I think at least some of my colleagues here would be ready to work with the Minister to establish a transition here that where a service can be established in another community I certainly don’t want to stand in the way of it, but I would return to that essential duty that we have to supply a badly needed service as close as possible to the people who need it. That is why these 700 people asked for this service to stay in Yellowknife. Can the Minister find a way to help us achieve this, Mr. Speaker?
Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 2-15(5): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Mr. Speaker, we will continue to provide full access to all those children that are deemed to be in need of the service at the Territorial Treatment Centre and that has never been an issue. We will put the resources necessary to continue to do that. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.
Supplementary To Question 2-15(5): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
This, again, Mr. Speaker, is a continuance of a sad legacy that our government has had over so many years. What we are abandoning here, Mr. Speaker, are 15 years of investment by this community, not just a government contract, but the schools, the medical people, the NGOs that are part of this. That’s what we are abandoning. Will the Minister understand that this is what is at stake here?
Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 2-15(5): Relocation Of The Territorial Treatment Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I hear the Member’s comments and I can appreciate and comprehend what he is telling me. I also have a position here that we’re moving on and we’re not abandoning anybody, we’re not denying anybody a service. I can appreciate how it feels when the concern people have when they see things they think move out of their communities, but this service is not going to be lost. It’s still going to be available a very short distance away. Thank you.
