Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with a concern that affects us all. We live in a time when all our communities are suffering from high unemployment, increasing demands on our social programs, ever increasing youth crime and violence. The pressures on youth today are staggering. In most cases of crime, alcohol was involved. When asked why youth are in trouble, the answer usually is boredom. With boredom, peer pressure takes on more importance which can lead to making bad decisions, like starting to drink. In the NWT we have all of these problems in all our communities. We also have one of the highest consumption rates of alcohol on a per capita basis than most in the rest of Canada. To add to this, we also have one of the lowest ages to legally drink in Canada. Is it no wonder that we have all the problems that we now face? Mr. Speaker, we can change the legal drinking age and later today I will ask the Minister responsible for the Liquor Control Board his views on this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
James Rabesca on Member's Statement 305-13(5): Legal Drinking Age
In the Legislative Assembly on February 23rd, 1998. See this statement in context.
Member's Statement 305-13(5): Legal Drinking Age
Item 3: Members' Statements
February 22nd, 1998
Page 990
James Rabesca North Slave
See context to find out what was said next.