Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Member's statement, you know, can you imagine that there are numerous people out there, like the young lady I was referring to, who wants help to overcome their addictions but the help from -- but they need the help from their own people within their own communities. Trust is a huge factor in -- when you're dealing with addiction recovery.
Will the Minister look at having her department look at supporting the residents of our smaller communities with financial resources to heal the residents of our smaller communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, exactly what the Member is talking about, this -- in the last couple years, the community wellness and recovery addictions funding is specifically to application-based from Indigenous governments or groups in the community that can apply for any type of programming that they want to offer in their community. And as it is right now today, in the Member's riding, the Gwich'in Tribal Council has received $303,000 from that fund and the -- they've -- also the Tetlit Gwich'in Band has also received $24,200 for that fund for this fiscal year. As well as there are funding for those youth that are struggling and possibly to -- you know, with our small communities, there's a high risk for suicide, so a suicide prevention fund within the community. GTC received $72,500 towards the Gwich'in communities, and the Tetlit Gwich'in also gets $71,533 directly into the Tetlit Gwich'in Council. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the response. I want to refer to addictions recovery and specifically to addictions recovery, Mr. Speaker.
Will the Minister take the lead and help heal our residents within our communities and meet personally with the interested community agencies who want to heal their communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know, I'm more than willing to always go in and speak with the community members; however, when it comes to the area where if they want community-based programs that are -- those funds have been requested by the Indigenous governments to go through this process. So what we do as the GNWT, provide mental health supports. There is a counsellor position in Fort McPherson. There is addiction support that's provided through this program. There are -- you know, and if there's discussion between the Indigenous groups in that region and my office and my staff, I'm more than willing to have those conversations on how we can work together. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As our last Minister's visit did not go well in Fort McPherson due to a death, will the Minister commit to visiting Fort McPherson in April of 2025 to address some of the concerns of the residents? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
If the Member is asking me to do another constituency tour, yes, I will commit to doing that; however, the dates we can work -- our offices can work together with those dates. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
