Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to also express my support for this motion, not just due to the fact the intent of the motion is to get an addictions treatment centre in the NWT, Mr. Speaker, but also, as I had stated in my Member's statement, that this is something that has become quite personal now as people who are close to me are being affected by this drug and the addiction that it carries along with it.

I know, Mr. Speaker, that the problem is predominant in our larger urban centres in the NWT, in Yellowknife, Hay River and Inuvik and such, but we also must consider the smaller communities, Mr. Speaker, because I know that these problems related to the lack of support programs and services available are trickling into the smaller communities around the larger centres, where mobility and accessibility are two of these, this type of heavy drug is getting a lot easier for people that have money in their pockets, now that we have development with mining and oil and gas and stuff. Just the fact that we should have something here in the NWT just makes it easier for people to go, it alleviates a lot of apprehension to being sent south, is what a lot of people refer to when going to seek some kind of treatment for their addiction. Just the words "being sent south" have a lot of connotations to it in the way that people will always consider you a lower form in our society because you are being sent south. Therefore, people have a lot of anxiety towards even going to seek support if it entails going to a southern institution. Having it anywhere up in the NWT, we have all our support networks at hand. Places like Stanton and the Tree of Peace and Salvation Army and others, the meetings that Mr. Ramsay was alluding to, that are being held every day, they would be really accessible to anybody around here if they were to be treated locally, and besides the reduction in the government costs, I'm sure, and keeping our dollars in the NWT, has always been a priority of this government.

Just to talk about the facilities that are currently available, we know that they are understaffed and overworked and underfunded and whatnot, and the whole process has become quite overwhelming for the people that are in that field of work. Mr. Speaker, I think once we have established the fact that yes, we will get something that is going to be a standalone facility and something that is going to be dealing strictly with this, what I like to refer to as an epidemic, but it could get a lot worse than that I'm sure. We do need some kind of a medical management unit that just strictly deals with this drug, crack cocaine addiction.

Therefore, I am totally supportive of the residential treatment programs, like here in Yellowknife. I can't mention the Somba K'e centre any more than it has already been mentioned; I am sure the Minister has gotten the point. I hope that all the Members of Cabinet are supportive of this motion and that they hope to see some resolve in making what the people are demanding: immediate government action. I just don't know why this government wouldn't take what is basically the majority of the public demand, to have something local, into consideration. Again, I just want to establish that I am totally in support of this motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.