Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the many goals of this government is to look at healthy families, self-reliant people helping themselves. Mr. Speaker, people in our smaller communities want to know how does that translate into their lives and into their communities. What does that possibly mean? What type of action could be put in place to get to those goals, and where do we start and where can we help and why do it?
Mr. Speaker, communities down the Mackenzie Valley have a high increase of alcohol and drugs in the Northwest Territories. It's been reported that the Northwest Territories are big spenders on alcohol and drugs; that we have probably the highest consumption of alcohol here in the Territories and that there's a high crime rate due to the use of alcohol. If you look at the RCMP stats or the Crown stats, businesses loose thousands and thousands of dollars in this issue here due to absenteeism from workers. Families, especially young children, are devastated, affected every weekend in the communities. Children run homeless and there's homeless homes in those small communities. Mr. Speaker, then there's health, there's education. We just go on and on.
Mr. Speaker, interestingly enough this morning News/North and on CBC Radio there was a report of a potential strike of workers at Nats'ejee K'eh that may happen. The healing process will come to a halt, Mr. Speaker, for people who want to seek alcohol residential school care. Well, there is a solution, Mr. Speaker. It's right from the people; the people asking we could help ourselves. The government has to look at alternatives, mobile, residential treatment programs in the communities or on the land. Bring the programs on the land. Bring the whole family, not just the individual. Get them out into the land. Get family instruction, have it small. People help themselves out there, Mr. Speaker, similar to the justice program that we started in Fort Good Hope under the Department of Justice. Do a pilot project. Bring the families out there to reconcile and do some healing. Put the families out there, Mr. Speaker, and in the communities they can help them by the Housing Corporation take care of homes. Education can look at the children and help them with their education studies; employment where people get to work.
Mr. Speaker, the solutions are there. We have to get behind these qualities and that and get the people to start looking after themselves the best we can. Give them the tools and support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause