Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I’m very distressed over this week’s report that the Minister of Health and Social Services has rejected a proposal put forth by the K’atlodeeche First Nations to reopen the only addictions treatment centre located in the NWT. There was a lot of disappointment and disbelief when the department pulled the funding for the Hay River Reserve’s Nats’ejee K’eh Treatment Centre.
I agree with my colleagues in this House; I question whether it was a wise decision to close the only addictions treatment centre in the NWT. I was willing to accept the department’s position that they were shifting their focus to the on-the-land programs, but I was also encouraged that they seemed to be willing to work with the KFN to find ways to reopen the treatment centre.
Now, it appears that Health and Social Services is no longer willing to support this. Like many others, I want to know the reasons why. This government talks a lot about working in partnership with Aboriginal governments. If we truly believe in this, then I don’t know how we can take such a non-productive approach with KFN.
The KFN wants to see the treatment centre reopened. There are a lot of good common sense reasons why this should happen. We could support the KFN to continue to use that perfectly serviceable facility. We could support putting jobs in the community, and most importantly, we could provide a treatment option for our own residents who want to stay in the NWT while in recovery.
Mr. Speaker, I applaud Chief Roy Fabian and I support the KFN in the push to reopen the only treatment centre in the NWT. Chief Fabian says the response of the Minister of Health and Social Services was like a slap in the face. The chief was trying to provide leadership on an issue that matters to the community and instead he’s disrespected and insulted in the process. This does not sound to me like the actions of a Minister who truly believes in partnerships with Aboriginal governments.
Will the Minister reconsider his response to the KFN and commit to reopening the treatment centre? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
