Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I wasn't going to say too much more on this during general comments, but I would like to touch on some of the comments that the Minister made yesterday and bring a few more points forward and get some clarification.
Mr. Chairman, for probably the last two years or more, I have continually advocated in this House for the proper recognition by the Department of Health and Social Services of alcohol and drug workers in our communities. These people are extremely passionate about the work that they do on a daily basis to help eradicate addictions throughout the North. The least we could do as legislators is ensure they get the certification and recognition that they rightfully deserve. The chairperson of the North of 60 chapter of Canadian Addictions Counsellors Certification Board made a presentation to the Standing Committee on Social Programs almost a year ago now. She truly felt that there was a commitment from our government and particularly from the Department of Health and Social Services that the issue of recognition of additions was going to get the attention that it so rightfully deserved. Now it appears the department has shifted its focus entirely.
While reading the NWT Health and Social Services integrated service model, I noted that on page 11 it states, "Mental health workers with broader counselling and referral skills and higher certification can be utilized in place of addictions counsellors." I was completely appalled when I read this. It appears that this government has chosen to drop the ball on this one.
Yesterday in Committee of the Whole, the Minister of Health and Social Services stated: "With regard to the alcohol and drug workers, I would like to reassure my colleagues that the intention is not to replace alcohol and drug workers with mental health workers. The intention is to convert alcohol and drug workers with a different focus. They would be called prevention workers." I would like the Minister to expand a little bit on this and clarify as it appears that it flies directly in the face of the department's integrated service model. Could the Minister expand and clarify those issues? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.