Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a common theme we heard in our travels across the Northwest Territories in the last year or so, other than elder abuse, was the fact that a lot of people want to see an Aftercare Program for alcohol and people who are seeking treatment have a couple of options. They can go to southern NWT or they can go to the South. One of the big concerns I know from my region is, again, the Aftercare Program. When they do come back, there really is no programs in place for them.
Mr. Speaker, alcohol is a big part of the Northwest Territories and it's probably one of the biggest addictions we do have up here. Growing up in Inuvik in the '70s, alcohol was normal. With all the activity going on up there, alcohol was easy to get and it was easier to get than pop. As a result, many of the kids that grew up in the '70s ended up with problems with alcohol. If you wanted to seek treatment, you couldn't have it in your community.
The recent visit up to Inuvik, and I had some of my Social Programs colleagues with me, we were invited up the river to a camp that is being put together by the Nihtat Gwich'in and the Gwich'in Tribal Council.