Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before we had our break, I was talking about how our democratic system works and even though we have a democratic system that we, as Canadians, all enjoy, there are still ways to manipulate the process. I think that takes away from the way democracy should work in Canada. I think I went into enough detail about that, indicating that particularly with this Cabinet, I have many times felt that if you can be manipulated to the point where it's to their benefit, it's all the better for them. But if, as an individual, you challenge the status quo at times, there is no doubt that Members feel that there will be reprisals also, particularly with respect to punishment with regard to constituency-related concerns.
I know that the lack of a decision with respect to the tanker base has been because of the fact that many times, I have been very candid and have challenged the Cabinet. They certainly know that, as an elected Member, I can't be manipulated in any way, shape or form. I've always been very candid in telling the Cabinet whether I support them or whether I disagree with them. I'll often indicate publicly in this House why I don't agree with issues. I'm not afraid to indicate at any point in time what I state behind closed doors. I'll say it again in public.
I really believe that if our democratic system in Canada is going to work, people have to be honest with each other. They have to trust each other, but it is critically important that they're honest with each other. I think those are some of the things we're losing sight of. It's going to be unfortunate, as we're going to be developing and setting up our own territories, if we don't have these basic values in our system, and if we allow manipulation to continue. Our democracy will break down.
Mr. Speaker, so far I have been speaking about transition issues that relate primarily to larger administrative, political and constitutional matters. There's no doubt that those are the important items for the new government to address. It is important, though, to remember this government's responsibility to strengthen the social and the economic fabric of the north. I certainly believe that this means that the new government has to place a renewed priority on addressing the devastation brought about in the north by alcohol abuse.
The new Legislature should, in my view, work hard to complete the excellent start that the Minister of Safety and Public Services has made in developing a new Liquor Act. But, I would remind them of the motions that were passed previously in committee of the whole as a guide for when he was to draft the new act. I recall quite vividly the public meetings held in my riding with respect to this act. It came out clearly that people felt we had to start addressing the underlying problems of our society, which have developed as a result of alcoholism.
Mr. Speaker, I think it became very clear to my constituents that we have to start dealing with bootlegging and other areas of alcohol abuse, like getting tougher with outlets selling alcohol; particularly outlets who sell alcohol to the point that people are so inebriated that they don't know what they're doing. We've got to start enacting laws to make people responsible for allowing others to consume so much alcohol. We also have to start toughening up on addressing drunk driving and to look at the laws regarding the sale of alcohol. The next government, as a creative measure with respect to revenue initiatives, may even want to look at other jurisdictions to see what they do with respect to privatizing the sale of alcohol. These are things they might want to look at. They privatized the liquor stores, all right, and allowed them to sell alcohol, but at a very low percentage and the revenue goes to the government. Very little of the revenue that is raised goes directly to address the problem of alcoholism. I know that for a fact.
Several Members have pointed out that...I don't believe new laws are going to be enough to address alcohol. I certainly hope the new Legislative Assembly will work towards a renewed emphasis on effective alcohol and drug prevention programming. We have made some great strides over the past four years, but there is still more that needs to be accomplished. I certainly believe, and I'm sure many Members will agree with me, that alcohol and drug worker salaries are still way too low. For the time and effort they put into addressing the concerns they have, they are still underpaid and overworked. There is a need for new and more effective treatment models. I know, for example, the Gwich'in have recently embarked on a new project and have drawn the expertise from the Bellwood Institute into their project, and I certainly wish them the best of success. I believe through their commitment they will be successful because they've done it on their own initiative, without the support of the government. I think it's commendable of the people of Gwich'in to do such a thing.
Mr. Speaker, I want to indicate that one of the things that the Department of Social Services has done and I did not agree with was the idea of dismantling and doing away with the board of management for alcohol and drug services. I felt that it was critically important to keep this board in place because I think that at the local level that's where you get what's really happening. The advice from that board to the bureaucrats in Yellowknife, I think, was well appreciated by many of the bureaucrats in Yellowknife because it gave them a different perspective on how to address alcohol and drugs. It gave them, certainly, a regional perspective. It certainly gave them a community perspective.
With all due respect, I know that the people in Yellowknife who have to deal with the alcohol and drug program are so busy because of the fact that this is a program that requires a lot of time and energy, a lot of people are asking them for support -- whether it's for going into a treatment centre or to get more funding for their alcohol program -- they don't have time to go out into the community. I think allowing for the input from this particular board to be able to give them a community perspective is critically important in how to address the abuse of alcohol and drugs in the north.
I know we do have many alcohol treatment centres; however, I recognize that...In fact, just today in my mail there was a letter of support for the solvent abuse program here in Yellowknife, done through the Northern Addiction Services. I want to take the time to commend Northern Addiction Services for looking at an issue that has been long overdue. I wish them well in attempting to address this. I know in many of the smaller communities there is a problem with solvent abuse. I certainly believe that the program that they have developed will help to address it. I think they certainly need the support of this government to address this type of program.
I would like to see some type of process put in place and set up in order to be able to look at a consultation process that utilizes the views of communities in order to look at alcohol and drug programs. If that's not in place, what will be happening is all the decisions will be made at the high level of the bureaucracy, being here in Yellowknife, without the perspective of the community and those types of decisions will be imposed on the communities. I think that will be a regressive step towards addressing alcohol and drugs and even solvent abuse. I would encourage the Department of Social Services to find some method or system that will take in viewpoints from across the north, whether it's a large, tax-based community or whether it's a small community, because I believe that the abuse of alcohol crosses all types of races and all types lines in society.
Mr. Speaker, I did want to comment on a few other particular comments. I certainly wanted to make note of some of them very quickly, as I recognize the time, to look at concluding. I did want to state that, as a Member, once again I want to commend Mr. Dent on his bill with regard to zero tolerance. It was unfortunate that we couldn't expand the bill, but I certainly would like to encourage the next Legislative Assembly to look at finding either another bill or expanding our Executive Council bill to find ways of attempting to address the concerns that I've raised; particularly with regard to whether a Member is found guilty of an impaired charge, illegal possession of drugs or any type of illegal activity. I think a Member should be charged accordingly, whether it's the Criminal Code, the Narcotics Act or whatever type of act.
I don't think it's right that we start penalizing Members for certain things and not other things because then we're starting to set our Members up for double standards. I don't believe that was the intention of Members when we were looking at conduct of Members. I certainly would encourage the next Legislative Assembly to develop a bill on that particular area.
Mr. Speaker, I want to speak briefly on Bill C-68. As I said earlier, I was pleased to be on this committee. Currently, we have Mr. Patterson and Mr. Kakfwi in Ottawa lobbying the Senate to conduct public meetings in the north. I know that all northerners are concerned about this bill and how it will affect all northerners' way of life. I'm still, Mr. Speaker, somewhat puzzled, particularly when trying to figure out where all the silent support for this bill is. I understand that many northern people don't support this bill. It's just not our way of life.
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I have to state that I understand why our western MP voted for this due to her party line and her party obligations, but it's difficult for many northerners to understand. That's why we don't like party politics because we, each and every Member, have the right to get up and state our position on anything without any fear of reprisal. I appreciate that. Mr. Speaker, I certainly hope that the Senate will come up north to conduct public meetings. I certainly support that. Any way that we can attempt to address this bill so that it will lessen the impact on the way of life for northerners will, I'm sure, be appreciated by many northerners.
Mr. Speaker, I also wanted to speak on the issue of the road south. I want to state that, being a Member for two Assemblies, the motion to assist in the development of this road south through Wood Buffalo National Park and to allow for the creation of a loop road around Fort Smith has been an issue, certainly a priority issue, for myself. I was somewhat taken aback with Mr. Patterson's comments on June 9th with regard to questioning the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism in allowing the assistance of my constituents to go meet the Prime Minister to lobby on this road.
I will state that I commend the Minister for not only paying lip-service with regard to assisting me with this motion but to also commend the Minister for giving us the support when we need it with regard to such an important initiative. I believe that any type of transportation linkage that we can create for the north will only help the north. It will not only help the north but will benefit all Canadians.
I was somewhat saddened to hear Mr. Patterson asking all these questions because when the motion came up when he was Government Leader, I'll tell you, Mr. Patterson didn't seem to do too much but he paid a lot of lip-service to the motion, which I was disappointed with. I want to commend Mr. Todd for all the work and support that he's given on this and certainly encourage him to continue the support regardless of what the NDP says or whatever any other party says. This piece of infrastructure in transportation is critical to the north, it's important to the north. He shouldn't be ashamed of it at all.
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I think he should happily continue to do his work and support it.
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Mr. Speaker, I also wanted to speak on a couple of other issues. While I'm speaking of Mr. Todd and while he's in the House, I think he has done well in Transportation and I continue to encourage him to continue with his initiatives, providing he doesn't take any PYs from my riding.
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I congratulate him on the acquisition of Arctic A airports.
Another thing I wanted to talk about, Mr. Speaker, is about Economic Development and Tourism. This afternoon, I asked Mr. Todd about the lack of an agricultural policy and the need for the development of such a policy. I want Mr. Todd to understand why the community of Fort Smith feels such a policy is important. Mr. Todd has been to Fort Smith a few times, I think he recognizes the size of trees we have in that riding, compared to his, and our ability to grow things. If we had an agricultural policy developed by this government, his department would be able to support different kinds of farming industry in the north.
Currently, we don't have too many. In Fort Smith, Mr. Sudom has done very, very well with his farm. I commended him earlier about the many kinds of potatoes he supplies to the communities and institutions. He's an elder and works hard to produce. If Mr. Todd's department had an agricultural policy, it would allow people in Fort Smith to grow potatoes, for example, and export them out of the community. We can probably even provide potatoes, carrots or whatever, to the whole north. Years ago, the mission used to do that but, because we don't have an agricultural policy, it's difficult for people to do it now. I certainly would encourage Mr. Todd, as eager as he is with northern accords, to be just as eager in developing an agricultural policy for his department.
Prior to concluding, Mr. Speaker, I would like to comment on a couple of other items. I wanted to mention when I was speaking about alcohol and drug issues that I really believe Social Services has to develop some kind of disability program for northerners. I think that the disability program has to address individuals who can work but still need assistance. If the Department of Social Services looks at programs developed in other jurisdictions, they might be able to pick up some concepts with regard to a disability program. We all know the former deputy minister, Mr. Doyle, who I had a lot of respect for, has gone to the Alberta government. I'm sure he would be more than willing to help this government develop some kind of disability program for northerners.
When you look at a disabled person, what do they get when they don't work? They don't get a pension, they don't get an allowance; they depend either on Social Services or on their spouse's income. That's if they can't work. I think that's shameful. For all the progress we have made as northerners, we have overlooked developing some good programs for disabled people.