Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Possibly the largest source of pain, sorrow, and escalating associated social ills in the NWT is due to our substance abuse, and particularly with alcohol in the Northwest Territories. Wherever we travel and consult, especially in the Child and Family Services Act review, for example, we hear about these sorts of problems and the need for new and improved programs on alcohol abuse.
Justice Vertes I believe recently commented on this and the need to address this and what it’s costing our people and our systems. I do have a real focus on prevention, and that’s still my main focus, but in this particular case this is such a priority item in all aspects that we need to address this every which way we can.
In the larger regional centres, and certainly in Yellowknife, we see people accumulating here, gathering and becoming street people, becoming homeless, and victims and perpetrators of violence and so on. We’re a civilized society. We must be able to address this better than we are, certainly much better than we are right now. So we really need some progress there.
Many of my colleagues have pointed out the healing power of the land and the opportunity to tap into this. I personally agree with that observation. I think this is a real opportunity. I don’t know how
much has been tried in the past, but we need to give that a really good shot, and I think there is some new thinking on substance abuse treatment that can mesh very nicely with that approach, and I appreciate my colleagues bringing this motion forward.
We can’t, of course, forget the need for follow-up and community and family support to realize the success an on-the-land treatment program can enable, and I’ll count on the department and my colleagues to make sure that that happens, but for now I’m stating my clear support for this motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.