Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My section is alcohol and drugs. Two main issues emerged in the area of alcohol and drugs. The first was the need for more money to pay for treatment. Secondly, there were demands for more attention to be paid to the lasting effects that drinking can have on children born to women who drink while they are pregnant.

People involved in the care and treatment of children suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or fetal alcohol effects (FAE) spoke very strongly about their concerns for these children. Current estimates are that 25 per cent of children in the region are FAS and FAE affected. One speaker called for more study of this problem to more accurately determine its extent and to explore the effects it has on the children and their families. Others were concerned about the impact that FAE and FAS affected children have on the school, health and social services.

To reduce the incidence of FAS, there were calls for tough measures including laying charges of criminal negligence against women who drink while pregnant. Others see such punitive action as "blaming the victim." In a broader view, to be effective in reducing the incidence of FAS, we were advised to look beyond the drinking and respond to the underlying issues that contribute to women drinking during pregnancy.

We were told that treatment money usually runs out in December of each fiscal year resulting in treatment being delayed or denied. People wanted to be sure that there would be regional input into the Hay River treatment centre program and that there would be Slavey speaking counsellors there. They wanted appropriate child care to be available for parents seeking treatment. Alternatively, people suggested offering family treatment which involved the children.

After completion of any treatment program, many stressed the importance of aftercare being available in the recovering person's home community to help support their sobriety. They also stressed that the aftercare counsellors had to earn the trust of their clients. Speakers told us they could earn this by keeping confidentiality and by displaying their counselling skills. Some called for more outreach activities to be undertaken by local A and D programs such as weekend activities for children.

People supported the idea of a mobile treatment team to work out of the Hay River centre, offering a thirty day program in people's own communities.

Social Assistance

Just as in the Keewatin, the primary concern expressed about social assistance is that the food allowance is not adequate enough to ensure that people can properly feed their families. In our third interim report, the committee recommended an immediate increase in the food allowance. We pointed out that the present food allowance does not come close, in any region of the NWT, to the cost of purchasing a nutritional supply of food. Since the government has not adequately responded to this recommendation, it was not surprising to again hear concern expressed about the level of the food allowance.

Other limitations brought to our attention included the perceived lack of benefits available to relatives, other than natural parents, who are raising children. Some speakers thought that mothers with custody of their children are required to seek maintenance from the father as a condition of their assistance. This is not a program requirement. These concerns and misunderstandings suggest that more education of clients about program benefits may help decrease the frustration that some feel.

People wanted more resources allocated to work projects or retraining initiatives.

Mr. Speaker, I will now give the report to Mr. Dent.