Mr. Speaker, one priority of this Assembly that we talk about surprisingly seldom is addressing the effects of trauma. And when we do talk about healing, we tend to frame it as black or white, all or nothing. We sometimes assume we can just take people with substance addictions from their rock bottom and then send them to treatment to become totally sober, all healed. And maybe that transformation does happen all at once for some people. But our shelters and our streets are overflowing with folks who are not totally sober. Maybe they've tried multiple times, maybe they're at some messy place along their journey. Certainly, they are focused on surviving and managing their pain day to day. These folks often turn to health care workers and staff at non-profits like the Women's Society and the Salvation Army, and we expect those frontline workers to somehow keep them safe day after day. Right now they don't have the tools to keep them safe which puts these frontline workers in a horrible situation. They need better harm reduction tools.
Now, officially, the GNWT has endorsed the principle of harm reduction in documents such as the 2023 Alcohol Strategy, but any harm reduction programs we've actually started to put in place have been starved of resources. What would it look like if this government actually embraced harm reduction?
First, the managed alcohol program, started in 2020 here in Yellowknife at the Spruce Bough supportive living facility, would have proper medical oversight by a nurse or doctor. Managed alcohol would be offered to other shelter users and communities outside Yellowknife. People staying in the hospital who are alcohol dependent would not be forced to detox which has shown to be ineffective and counterproductive anyway. We would establish on-the-land healing camps that don't require folks to be sober first. Safe supply programs would receive dedicated funding instead of public health having to do it off the side of their desk with spare change. There would be a day shelter space where homeless people can safely use. We all want members of our communities to heal and move forward with their lives. But if we're going to be successful, we have to be practical. Start by meeting people where they're at, offer them safety and stabilization, offer them some space, some room to regroup and consider what else is possible. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and my colleagues. Healing from trauma is not all or nothing. We need to help people slowly build momentum with small successes supported by a system designed to reduce harms along the way. Thank you, and I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member from Mackenzie Delta.
