Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a Regular Member, I’ve repeatedly asked the Minister of Health about the state of our residents’ mental health and the supports available to them. And time and time again, the Minister has denied what is blatantly obvious to most residents of this territory that we are in a mental health crisis.
Mr. Speaker, the issues facing this territory and the deeply ingrained trauma experienced by our people is not going to go away by logging onto some app or calling a crisis line. People need real supports that include inperson counselling, culturallyappropriate programming, aftercare, and actual physical spaces in which people can detox from drugs or alcohol or flee from domestic violence situations.
Last session, the Minister’s response to my question, "I feel confident that we're not facing anything that we can't deal with," shows how out of touch with reality this Minister is. In fact, so much so, her comments prompted the Native Women’s Association of the NWT to write a letter calling out her "disconnect" and the harm created by her dismissive comments. They expressed that they were "appalled and dismayed;" and frankly, Mr. Speaker, I agree with them.
As the Native Women’s Association pointed out, and I have stated numerous times in this Chamber, COVID19 has compounded the mental health crisis in the North, with increasing rates of homelessness, addiction, suicide, violence, depression, and incarceration.
Intergenerational trauma and the pandemic have created a double burden that is overwhelming our people’s ability to deal with it. And although the Minister of Health and Social Services has yet to acknowledge that there is a mental health crisis occurring in the NWT, it is obvious to me that the first crucial step to addressing this crisis is adequate and safe housing.
There is an invisible homeless population in the territory of people who are couch surfing, staying in relationships of convenience, or remaining in places that are unsuitable or unsafe for themselves and their families, just to keep a roof over their heads. When I speak with these people, they always express a concern for their ability to stay sober while having nowhere to call home. For many, there is a loss of pride, a loss of connection to their culture and families, just from the inability to host them in their homes. Others struggle with health concerns and conditions only made worse by their lack of stable housing.
Mr. Speaker, acknowledging a problem is the first step to finding its solution. And since the Minister of Health refuses to acknowledge what is in front her eyes, I am going to take my questions to the Minister of Housing and urge her to help our vulnerable people.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.
Member’s Statement 1087-19(2):
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I'm going to do with permission, I am going to do eulogy for Dan Marion. Mr. Daniel Marion of Behchoko.
Mr. Speaker, Tlicho people have known Dan for many, many, many years. Dan was always there to give advice on any topic, such as business issues, employment issues, social, technical truck problems, and many more. Dan always had time for you and showed that he really cared about your welfare. When you shared a problem with Dan, his reply always pointed to a solution that was beneficial to all.
Dan was a great advocate for the aspirations of youth. He admired young people as store workers, truck drivers, gave out scholarships money for students that were going to be pursuing higher educations and other positions and important life lessons in the best way of providing the best service to customers and clients. He developed the capabilities of young people and gave them skills and attitudes that served them well in their future. Dan emphasized the good feeling a person gets with a job well done.
He was an astute businessman in operating Rick's Trucking and guiding the Tlicho Investment Corporation for the first critical years. His Facebook posts, these posts, few months showed great appreciation. These past few months showed great appreciation of family, friends, and importance of helping those in need. He talked about the meaning of life and profound grief of losing someone dear.
Dan enhanced many of our lives, and his example of life well lived will be felt well into the future. This is the Dan Marion that we knew, and we always knew him as a [no translation provided] store manager in our region, Tlicho region. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Our thoughts and prayers are with the community at this time. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
