Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since I was elected in December 1999, I spent a lot of my initial time as an MLA highlighting the issues of addictions in my region. I shared my constituents' cries for help in this area. I even tabled a petition asking for a treatment centre in my region.

Last February, the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services released the Final Report of the Minister's Forum on Health and Social Services. It was subtitled Let's Get on With It! This report had specific recommendations for addressing addictions and health care across the Territories.

Last week, when the budget address was being given, I was surprised that no mention of addictions was made. Instead, mention was made that there are still gaps in the existing health care analysis and that a new study has been commissioned to map out an action plan.

Within the Dogrib region, the community services board has taken a lead role in addressing addictions. They have put funds toward training drug and alcohol addiction counsellors and they have mapped out an addictions strategy. At a government level, since last year, four women's programs and two youth programs have been completed in the Deh Cho and the Dogrib regions. These programs, as I understand it, are three weeks in length.

Addictions occur territorial-wide and yet there is only one facility in the entire Northwest Territories to deal with these issues. We have studies and we have our people's cries for help in this area. As a government, let us get on with it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause