Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Minister agree with me that the likelihood of a positive treatment outcome is enhanced when alcohol and drug counsellors are able to function effectively as role models to their clients and the community at large?
Debates of Feb. 28th, 1992
Topics
Supplementary To Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
Supplementary To Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
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The Speaker
Mr. Whitford.
Further Return To Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
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Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Absolutely, Mr. Speaker. The response to the initiatives that the department has taken in the alcohol and drug treatment -- for example, the sobriety clause -- has been overwhelming in support. The response from the majority of people who have written to me, telephoned me, and have spoken to me about this, has been very positive. It has always been that role modelling in any arena is very important to the success of a program.
Further Return To Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 187
The Speaker
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.
Supplementary To Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that the Dene of the Deh Cho region have expressed their support for the Minister's sobriety policy through the resolution I tabled on February 13th. I wonder if the Minister could tell this House about the other supportive correspondence he has received from other parts of the Northwest Territories.
Supplementary To Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 187
The Speaker
Mr. Whitford.
Further Return To Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
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Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have received dozens of letters from individuals and groups, and telephone calls and personal communications from people who want to express their support for the clause. Mr. Speaker, I would go so far as to say that the reactions have been in favour, 10 to one, in support of it. Fortunately, the only negative comments, the serious negative criticisms, have come from two communities, Mr. Speaker. The majority of others have been very positive.
Further Return To Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 187
The Speaker
Oral questions. Last supplementary, Mr. Gargan.
Supplementary To Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
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Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
Thank you. During the 11th Assembly the Department of Social Services completed a very comprehensive strategy plan for the delivery of alcohol and drug treatment services. Among other things that the plan proposed, only the communities which have shown progress in resolving the alcohol and drug problems should be targeted for capital development and addiction treatment facilities. Does the Minister agree with me that one of the ways to measure communities' readiness for capital treatment facilities should be the willingness of the local alcohol and drug abuse project to comply with the sobriety clause?
Supplementary To Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 188
The Speaker
Mr. Whitford.
Further Return To Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
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Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have been involved with the establishment of two facilities in the Territories, so far, in my political life as a Minister. I am involved now with the establishment of a further treatment centre in Hay River that was promoted and supported strongly by my predecessor, Mrs. Marie-Jewell, and with the concurrence of this government. First of all, they have shown a tremendous initiative in those areas, and the results are very positive. I think we have to look at the results and we have to look at not only the needs in that area but also the drive behind the workers that are going to be delivering these programs. Because without that personal commitment, without that drive, any program is going to fall flat on its face and not succeed to the level that one would expect.
As I said, the other facility that I was involved with in the establishment again, under the initiative of the former government, was the treatment centre that is located on the road near Dettah, and judging by the response of the public to this, this again shows the concern and the active participation to the cause by the workers there, who, by the way, have endorsed this and embraced the sobriety clause without any difficulty. The results, Mr. Speaker, speak for themselves. They have a waiting list of people waiting to go there because they know this is where they can get good treatment.
Further Return To Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Question O193-12(2): Informing Southern Alcohol And Drug Organizations Of Success Of Sobriety Policy
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 188
The Speaker
Oral questions. Ms. Mike.
Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Item 5: Oral Questions
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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Social Services regarding the recommendation he has received on his policy requiring alcohol and drug worker sobriety. I understand that this policy arose as a result of a recommendation from the territorial board of management for alcohol and drug services. Can the Minister assure the House that this board of management is presently supportive of the way he is now implementing this sobriety policy?
Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 188
The Speaker
Mr. Whitford.
Return To Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 188
Return To Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Item 5: Oral Questions
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The Speaker
Supplementary, Ms. Mike
Supplementary To Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Item 5: Oral Questions
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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My supplementary to the Minister of Social Services. Recognizing that there has not been a representative from Baffin Region on the board of management for almost two years, and that there is now no representative from the Keewatin region either, can the Minister inform the House why he did not ensure that there was an opportunity for this board to consider the opinions of the Eastern Arctic with regard to this abstinence policy?
Supplementary To Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 188
The Speaker
Mr. Whitford.
Further Return To Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Item 5: Oral Questions
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Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the board was established before I had an opportunity to participate in the selection. I am cognizant of the fact that there are members not there, but I do not think that affects the decisions that the board makes. Mr. Speaker, I made a trip to the Baffin, including Pangnirtung, to speak to anybody that was interested in talking to me at the time. I made it known well in advance there, so they knew I was coming. Anybody that wanted to speak to me about the sobriety clause had an opportunity to do so, and I am sad to say that BRC, Baffin Regional Council, never made any initiatives or gave any indication that they wanted to speak to me. No one ever said that I was speaking to the wrong people while I was there. Mr. Speaker, the board of management is well balanced in its selection, and if there are vacancies in there, they are not through any intention of this Minister to curtail any input from any region. We will address that when the freeze is off and when we can refill vacancies that are the board.
Further Return To Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 188
The Speaker
Supplementary, Ms. Mike.
Supplementary To Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Item 5: Oral Questions
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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Tony keeps stating there are only two communities opposed to this policy in Baffin, which in fact BRC...
Supplementary To Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 188
The Speaker
Point of order, Mr. Whitford.
Point Of Order
Supplementary To Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Item 5: Oral Questions
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Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
I do not believe it is proper to address me as "Tony."
---Applause
Speaker's Ruling
Supplementary To Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 188
The Speaker
According to our rules, the Member does have a point of order. The rules say you have to address a Member by his or her surname or constituency; at least in this House, he cannot be called Tony. Ms. Mike.
Supplementary To Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Question O194-12(2): Support Of Territorial Board Of Management For Sobriety Clause
Item 5: Oral Questions
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Rebecca Mike Baffin Central
I will call him Tony Whitford, Minister of Social Services. You keep indicating that there are only two communities that are opposed to this clause. How do you understand BRC? Just as one community? It is an organization representing all 13 communities in the Baffin