Thank you, Madam Chair. First of all, I would like to give thanks to the residents of the Mackenzie Delta for giving me the opportunity to represent them in this 20th Legislative Assembly. It's a great honour to be in this Chamber with my colleagues. And I would also like to acknowledge the outgoing past MLA, Mr. Fred Blake Jr. for his many years of service to the people of Tsiigehtchic, Fort McPherson, and Aklavik.
Today I would like to address some of the concerns/issues that were raised during my campaign for the MLA of the Mackenzie Delta. The residents of my riding are very concerned with the future of their respective communities and their well-being. Although we cannot, as a government, make certainty to all these issues, we can address the need to make our constituents feel that their concerns are being addressed by the appropriate departments.
Some of the important concerns/issues that have been identified by residents in my riding are as follows, but not limited to, first of all, is the Frank Gruben story where he -- this young man has been missing for a number of years and when I went to visit his family, his family stated that they are left in the dark. The department has not made any effort to come to meet with them, to communicate with them in getting some answers into where they're -- where they are within their investigations into the disappearance of Mr. Gruben. I have given my assurance to the family that I would give this concern my utmost attention to the appropriate department and make sure that the -- they get answers. I would also like to thank Mr. Jacobson, former MLA, for bringing this forth during his time as MLA.
Other issues that were brought forth were, of course, the housing issue. In my riding, we have 128 housing units in the community of Fort McPherson alone. And the waiting list is -- it goes as far as three years you can be on the waiting list, and we have some vacant homes within the community. We cannot build 128 homes to meet the needs of some of our -- most of our residents but we can use alternative measures, like building -- using retrofits where we can use energy efficient homes, build energy efficient homes to meet the needs of our constituents. There is many people who are on the medical list that require housing. We have to find that alternative measures where we can meet the needs of these specific people so that they can get in housing as soon as possible. These are some of the concerns that come within housing.
And treatment centres, I've heard these concern coming to me, the need for treatment centres within the North was much needed because there are people out there who want to -- who want and need the help that they deserve. Sending our Indigenous people south for treatment is not working. We send our people to southern institutions and they're expected to adapt to these -- totally a different culture. And when they come back, there's no aftercare, and they fall right back into the same system.
When I think of treatment centres, I look back at two individuals from my community of Fort McPherson who have passed on since. Mr. Leo Collins and his wife Elizabeth, in 1970s they took it on their own to seek help for themselves, a better lifestyle for themselves and their children. So they went to Henwood I believe, and they seeked -- they got the treatment that they wanted. Then they came back to the community and tried to help their community, other community members. They started up an AA centre, which was used as drop-in centre where they can -- people can come in that feel safe, especially the children of the community. The children of the community gathered there and played games, watch television, and if other members of the community needed some counselling, Mr. Collins and and his wife were there to provide the counselling services within the community, a community-based program that was very successful. But funding cuts took that program out of our community and now are left with finding alternative measures to meet these needs.
The education system is one where we, in the communities, small communities, are left to deal with two departments where socially promoting our students is definitely not working. We find that our students are socially promoted to stay in the same age group. Then when they graduate, they're not adequately educated enough to take on post-secondary education, and they have to look at other alternatives. And one alternative is going to the social services for social assistance. Once they get the social assistance, they're stuck there. Their self-esteem is way down. So we have to find measures to build their self-esteem up and reform our education system where our students are educated so that they can be better citizens and be more in the workforce.
Some of these community-based programs that I talked about need to be -- need to come right down to the community level rather than Yellowknife or some of the other centres, like Inuvik and Hay River. It has to come directly to our small communities where we can work with our members, our residents. What works in Yellowknife or Inuvik may not work in places like Tsiigehtchic. Only the residents of Tsiigehtchic knows what needs to be done. We can, they can work with their own people and find solutions and make it more healthier.
I would also like to thank the -- my colleagues here. I look forward to working with you in this 20th Legislative Assembly to meet some of these needs. I would also like to acknowledge the constituents of my riding that I will and seek your advice in meeting some of these priorities. Thank you, Mr. Chair.