Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the situation of alcohol and drug workers in our community alcohol and drug centres is simply intolerable. Wage scales set by the Department of Social Services -- which are not even close to reflecting the real costs of living in our communities, or the wage marketplace -- suggest that the Government of the Northwest Territories is making mere token efforts to offer community alcohol and drug services. In my constituency of Iqaluit, where we know that revenue flowing to the GNWT from alcohol sales, in licensed premises alone, is just under $1 million a year, and where it is estimated by the RCMP, the drug industry amounts to $1 million a month.

An entry level alcohol and drug worker makes a base salary of $23,313, plus a housing allowance. There are no benefits, no VTA, no medical or dental benefits beyond Medicare. An entry level custodial worker at any one of our schools in Iqaluit makes $34,000 plus a whole range of government benefits.

I know of an experienced and dedicated counsellor who came from southern Canada to offer his services at Upassuraakut. He had a wife to support. He didn't drink or smoke. He had no vehicle, no skidoo. Even with the top scale of level three, at $27,388 plus housing allowance, the high cost of living and housing in Iqaluit resulted in a net income, after tax shortfall, of $300 per month for he and his family. Money was certainly not his prime motivation, but does our government expect even dedicated alcohol and drug workers to lose money each month? At this time, a very dedicated and capable Inuk from a Baffin community, with a large family, is completing the alcohol and drug component of the social worker program at Arctic College. He is working at Upassuraakut while completing his studies. He has recently spent a period of internship at Bellwood, a nationally-known alcohol and drug treatment centre in Toronto. As long as he is housed in Arctic College student housing, he can just get by on his income but as soon as he has to find his own housing for he and his family, after he finishes his course, he simply will not be able to afford to continue working at Upassuraakut. I'm sorry, Mr. Speaker, I will have to ask for consent to continue.