Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is as
good an opportunity as any to bring this up. I notice that the Minister’s opening remarks, with the eight pages…. As highlighted by another Member, it seems to be lacking in recognition or a plan — or, I should say, even further — on addictions. Addictions, as we know, is a very significant problem here. It’s horrible. That’s all I’m going to say. I could probably go on at length about that. The fact is that addictions isn’t highlighted. I’ve
looked through the budget, and of course, we don’t have any specific line item for addictions.
The problem with that, Mr. Chairman, is that just the other day we gave away, through a negotiated deal, our Territorial Treatment Centre, which will now become a training centre. Addiction problems continue to rise at an alarming rate, and treatment for larger challenges, such as cocaine and crack and whatnot, require specialized treatment, yet this budget seems to be lacking that recognition. If it is there, I’d certainly like to know where it is, and I’d certainly like to know why it seems to be missing or why no recognition of this problem is in the Minister’s opening remarks.