Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to talk about an issue that was raised on several occasions by the honourable Member for Baffin Central regarding the sobriety requirements for alcohol and drug workers in the Northwest Territories. After listening to the debate in question period last Friday, I became very concerned with the approach taken by the Minister of Social Services. Essentially the Minister has told dissenting alcohol and drug groups that it is "my way or the highway."
Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the sobriety requirement is to be included in all contribution agreements between the GNWT and local boards for the provision of alcohol and drug treatment programs. To me, a contribution agreement means exactly that, an accommodation negotiated between two parties. It does not mean, "Here is the agreement; sign on the bottom line." My question to the Minister would be: Where is the agreement in the current process?
The second concern I have, Mr. Speaker, is the Minister's attitude toward communities who have chosen not to adhere to the sobriety requirement as arbitrarily implemented by the Minister. In the unedited Hansard on February 28 the Minister stated, "I am contemplating very seriously that as the door closes on the acceptance of some of these resources, that I redistribute them to the communities that are showing active participation and support the intent and spirit of the program."
Mr. Speaker, in the Minister's world only communities that adhere to his policy will get funding for drug and alcohol treatment. I hope this is not a typical attitude of this government. I wonder if we will be negotiating community transfer agreements in a similar manner.
Mr. Speaker, this approach and attitude, to me, is clearly unacceptable. No matter what the advantages or disadvantages of a sobriety requirement are, the process used by the Minister of Social Services to implement this requirement is heavy-handed at best. I hope the Minister would reconsider his intransigent approach to this issue, sit down and negotiate with all parties concerned. Thank you.
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