Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we talk about addictions, we are talking about individuals who are primarily Indigenous, marginalized, and have been traumatized by residential schools and the 60s Scoop.
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to substance abuse, we have mainstream programming available, along with access to on the land programs and treatment centres, albeit the treatment centres are in southern Canada. Yesterday I spoke about the need for detox beds. Today I will focus on the need for aftercare and transitional housing supports.
Except for warehousing individuals in day and night shelters, there is no dedicated transitional sober/recovery housing for clients upon their return from treatment. Mr. Speaker, for those that are fortunate enough to access some form of detox help, and actually make it to a treatment centre or on the land program, it is leaving that facility and returning home that many find difficult. They arrive home and there is no one to meet them, no one offering up support, and no encouragement to stay the course. It is a substantive gap in the system. It is a recipe for failure and is chronically repetitive.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to focus on how we can move forward and support those that are returning from treatment. How can we close that gap and provide these individuals with the tools that will give them a chance at life and the opportunity to reconnect with family and friends?
Mr. Speaker, what is missing is the brick and mortar component that would provide beds and a safe place for the client to receive the wraparound services needed to integrate oneself back into the community upon returning home.
Mr. Speaker, there is infrastructure that is sitting empty or being underutilized that can and should be used for addiction recovery. The infrastructure I am talking about are the correctional centres in both Hay River and Fort Smith, the old Hay River medical clinic, and the Katl'odeeche First Nation's building, which was once a treatment centre, and a number of empty federal houses scattered throughout.
We also have, in partnership with NGOs, private parties, both of whom are interested and poised to set up aftercare facilities but who find the commitment, financial support, and longevity offered up by this government inadequate. These options are real and available to us but for some reason we refuse to consider them and move them forward. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we need to identify and utilize the resources we have and, in the best interest of the residents who need the service, repurpose them. This may include retraining staff to meet the new demands. Anything less is a failure on our part. Thank you.
