Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have already voiced my concerns about the decision made by the Department of Social Services which tries to force alcohol and drug project employees to abstain from any use of alcohol. Today I would like to raise additional concerns about the way the Minister of Social Services has gone about implementing the decision. I am very unhappy with the Minister's unwillingness to listen seriously to the concerns that have been raised about this policy. I do not believe the Minister understands our Eastern Arctic communities, and I know he does not understand the role of alcohol and drug counsellors at the local level. It troubles me and my constituents that the Minister has not respected the opinions of people who do not understand these things; people like our elders, the community members who sit on our alcohol and drug committees, and skilled addiction counsellors who work in the Baffin Region.
The recommendation to develop this policy was apparently made by the board of management for alcohol and drug services. This board meets in secret and does not make its minutes available for public review. I am shocked to learn that there is currently no representation from either the Baffin Region or the Keewatin Region on the board. The decision to implement this policy has not been re-evaluated since the election to determine whether it conforms with the community self -initiatives about which the Government Leader has been telling us. The concept has never been debated fully in this House.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister is fond of pointing out that only two alcohol and drug projects in the Northwest Territories have refused to sign the contribution agreement which includes the Minister's sobriety clause. But we should make no mistake, there is very little support for this policy in the Eastern Arctic. There is resentment over the disrespect this Minister has shown to our regional council, and there is concern over his disregard for the views of alcohol and drug workers in my region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.