Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak today about Northern Addiction Services. Next week marks the 25th anniversary of the Northern Addiction Services. It provides drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs to all residents of the Northwest Territories and on average, 200 citizens have been treated at the facility for some years.

The society was incorporated in 1973 and as a result today, there is a 12-bed detox centre located on main street here in Yellowknife that serves 140 adults on a short-term counselling basis annually. It also has a ten-bed youth centre which provides youth inhalant solvent recovery programs and provides more than a dozen opportunities for youth per year. Unfortunately, the youth program has been cancelled due to budget cuts of this government.

An adult centre opened in Yellowknife in 1991 and it is located on the Detah road. It is a 28-bed facility. It provides alcohol, drug and substance abuse services. Alcohol, drug and substance abuse is the number one concern for us here in the Northwest Territories. Because of alcohol and drug abuse, we see a lot more violence, family violence, increased suicides, crime and sexual abuse, Mr. Speaker. Recent consultations by the Northern Addiction Services has shown that there is a continued need for support for people with addictions. There needs to be improved follow-up care, more youth programs, and additional treatment capacity.

On this 25th anniversary, I would like to congratulate the staff and the board members of Northern Addiction Services for their continued commitment to citizens of the Northwest Territories. I would also like to recognize two people who were instrumental in the establishment of the service, Winnie Fraser-McKay and Thelma Tees. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause