Date
November
30
2007
Members Present
ITEM 1: PRAYER
Assembly Members
Debates of November 30, 2007 (day 6)
Topics
Statements
Member’s Statement On Treatment Facilities In The North
Robert Hawkins
Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I begin, I wish to make special mention that today is Red Friday and I continue to wear red to honour our troops and the families, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, I spoke about the need to introduce and pass the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act in order to support the police and communities in getting rid of those drug dealers and bootleggers. Mr. Speaker, we need, of course, as many tools out there to clean up those streets for our families.
However, Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about the other side of the equation. I wish to talk about supporting those who are addicted to the alcohol that they consume and the drugs that they get from these people who sell these things through their illegal activities. I do not believe we are doing enough to support these people with addiction problems and the fact is we’re not doing anything to help support families and youth.
Mr. Speaker, our current state of affairs in the Northwest Territories only has one treatment centre and it’s located in Hay River. The reality is, though, the Hay River Reserve treatment centre specializes in traditional treatment for aboriginal people, Mr. Speaker, but we still need, again, we’re lacking treatment for youth and families. There is nothing wrong with that approach, but where are we helping the other people that need help? I’m sure we’re getting a lot of money sent down south by sending people to those southern placements, Mr. Speaker, but we must be getting to a point where we are able to reconstitute these people and start offering these programs here through detox and regular treatment.
Mr. Speaker, community-based treatment programs only help so much in the aftercare but, Mr. Speaker, we need, finally, dedicated strategic investment into treatment facilities in the North. The last Assembly passed, on this side of the House, a unanimous motion of saying we want a treatment program in Yellowknife and in Inuvik because we want to start to put an end to this problem. Mr. Speaker, residential treatment programs help people get back on their feet. I’d like to see this government start to realize that and show some action. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause