Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have heard, in this House many times about the impact of alcohol and drug abuse in our northern communities. Mr. Speaker, nothing goes against traditional values that aboriginal women and men have held for centuries the way alcohol and drug abuse does. Nothing violates our homes, threatens the safety of women, children, elders and reduces community productivity the way alcohol and drug abuse does. Nothing harms the spiritual well-being of the individual the way alcohol and drug abuse does.
Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about what is happening with certain aspects of this government's administration of addictions treatment. Nothing is more unacceptable than administrative inefficiency in this area. Mr. Speaker, addictions are a family disease, I believe. It is important, especially within the holistic healing framework that Dene and Inuit have embraced for centuries, that the family should be held as a unit.
I understand that some community alcohol and drug workers have been advised by the Department of Social Services they will not fund out-of-territories referrals for families. I also understand that resources for treating the family unit in the Northwest Territories are limited or non-existent. I have even heard there is not enough money to send clients to specialize treatment programs in southern Canada until April 1993. That is not right, Mr. Speaker. The Minister needs to take a hard look at the decisions her Yellowknife officials have been making in this area. Chief Steve Kotchea of Fort Liard put it very well when we commented, and I quote "the circle can be broken, but mended with proper treatment." If we are going to keep the circle strong, Mr. Speaker, we must ensure that troubled families are offered opportunities to receive the very best treatment, otherwise we as elected officials will be contributing to the problem rather than the solution. I have faith in the Minister's abilities to correct this problem and I urge her to start working on it immediately. Mahsi cho.