Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] When I talked earlier, I mentioned about alcohol and addiction, how to do treatment for people. [Translation ends] The first question I have is: what programs are currently in place here in the Northwest Territories to provide addiction treatment and addiction recovery care? How many programs are there in total? Masi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to talk about the Mental Wellness and Addictions Recovery Action Plan that supports the priorities of this 19th Assembly by increasing the number and variety of culturally respectful, community-based mental health and addictions programs, including after-care. I would also like to address the Member's question on what are the types of programming that we have for mental health and addictions.
We have a number of programs, Mr. Speaker, including the Community Counselling Program. We also have the Northwest Territories helpline. We have facility-based addictions treatments. We have the On-the-Land Healing Fund. We also have a program for family violence shelters. We have a "What Will It Take?" family violence campaign. We also deliver prevention-promotion workshops, including mental health, first aid, and applied suicide intervention skills training; also, "Talking About Mental Illness."
I was strictly referring to addiction treatment and addiction recovery care. However, I will move on to the second question, on-the-land treatment programs. How many on-the-land treatment programs do we currently have in the Northwest Territories and where are they located?
The Department of Health and Social Services delivers the On-the-Land Healing Fund in partnership with Indigenous groups. This budget is approximately $1.8 million a year. It supports community development facilities focused on mental health and addictions. The Member asked which locations, and I can get back to the Member on the location of the on-the-land healing programs.
Since we do not have an actual treatment centre here in the Northwest Territories, I would like to know the costs over the last 10 years. How many clients have we sent to the southern institutions, and how much did that cost this government?
I will commit to get back to the Member on exactly the numbers that he is requesting. I apologize. I don't have that with me right now, so we will get back to the Member on the numbers.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, I would appreciate all the detailed information that the Minister will be providing. My fourth and final question is: the Truth and Reconciliation Commission call to action has 23 calls upon all levels of government, including the territorial government, to increase the number of Aboriginal professionals, retention of Aboriginal professional healthcare, and also training for all those health professionals. Do we currently have in place all these areas of interest that have been highlighted as part of the calls to action in our communities, in our 33 communities, Mr. Speaker? Masi.
I don't have that information at this time. However, I will note that the department provides a number of services and supports for mental health and addictions, including child and youth care counsellors, facility-based addiction treatment, psychiatric care and treatment, the Northwest Territories helpline, and the partnership with the land-based Indigenous groups. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
