Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, national addiction awareness week is celebrated once a year across the country. However, I sometimes worry that people may be getting mixed messages, the message to celebrate national addiction awareness week. Some people, Madam Speaker, are doing just that.
On Sunday, I was proud to be a participant in the sobriety walk in Fort Providence. Many members of the community participated in the walk. I was pleasantly surprised to see not only those people who have committed their lives to sobriety, but also those who are just beginning their struggle to overcome an addiction. I applaud the people who participated.
As we recognize national addiction awareness week, it becomes very important to note that the Northwest Territories is in the midst of developing new liquor legislation which will be based on the legislative action paper that the Minister tabled in the House just yesterday. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Minister for the thorough consultation with the communities this department and, in particular, Mr. Allan Downe who is the senior advisor of social projects, has done in the development of this important piece of legislation.
The consultation with the communities was not smooth and some controversy over the issues of alcohol has surfaced, such as the issue of serving alcohol to pregnant women. However, it is through public input that the Northwest Territories will arrive at legislation that reflects the needs of northerners.
Madam Speaker, I can only hope that the new liquor laws will be designed to reflect the lives of the people of the north and not be designed for the institution that serves alcohol. I would suggest that one way the legislation can best serve the people of the north and, in particular, those people who have an addiction to alcohol, would be to develop an individual liquor licence, like a drivers license, that would be issued by the tribunal to those people who qualify. I am aware that this may be an individual rights issue; however, in some instances, I believe the public interest should outweigh the rights of the individual.
Alcohol, drugs and other types of addiction are not just an individual's problem. These addictions affect the well-being of the children, families and communities. When we consider the development of the new legislation, we must ensure that it protects the community from the effect of these addictions.
Madam Speaker, I would like to get unanimous consent to complete my Member's statement.