Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I can indicate to the Member and I can attempt to restate what I said yesterday, but the intention is not to replace alcohol and drug workers with mental health workers. What we are doing is adding where we can, with the money we have, some mental health workers where they didn't previously exist. We are also recognizing I would suggest at long last, in a very fundamental real way, the importance of alcohol and drug workers by finally giving them a job description and a pay level and some benefits that will allow them to exist as they do the job that they are so passionately committed to. We are going to work with the alcohol and drug workers on an individual basis as we move to the broader role of prevention workers. We are also trying to add some mental health workers to the mix to work with social workers, nurses, doctors and community health reps and family violence people and all the other services that may be available to individual communities, so that we have as broad a range of services working together to deal on a prevention basis with the issues at the community level. Thank you.
Michael Miltenberger on Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
In the Legislative Assembly on February 18th, 2003. See this statement in context.
general Comments
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 17th, 2003
Page 146
See context to find out what was said next.