Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this motion. As I referenced in my statement, it’s time to put the Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan to work. It is not time for further studying.

There are lots of actions that are planned for in the document, but the department needs the resources to get the job done. That’s what is asked for in this motion: resources.

This Assembly should have a priority focus on prevention and addictions. We said so in our Caucus priorities. The Assembly should put money into those priorities if we really believe what we said over a year ago. There’s no point in having priorities if we don’t focus our resources on them, and we are focusing a lot of our resources on the economic development priority, also in our Caucus priority, but we are forgetting to fund the social priorities effectively.

The Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan identifies 10 service gaps, identifies them thoroughly, and I agree with the department’s analysis on those gaps. But I have to say, again, that there is no need to continue to study or to start another study on the issue of addictions.

Follow the recommendations of this motion, it calls for funding and it calls for action. The Minister has been heard to say that the communities feel ignored, not listened to. I don’t doubt that they feel that way, but I believe it is because we as a government continue to ignore their requests, their need for resources at the community level. We know the problem, we just refuse to provide the supports that our people are asking for, and it’s been said that the people closest to the problem often best understand it and know how to fix it. Our communities have been asking for resources for a long time. We should hear them and act on their asks.

The Community Wellness Plan currently being developed is a good step, but we need to put lots of other financial resources, as well, into the communities. We need mental health workers and programs at the community level for prevention, for detox, for aftercare, just as an example, and the programs must be targeted for youth, for adults, for older adults, for families, for males, for females. The needs for each are slightly different, and each should have programs and supports adjusted to fit their group. I think we – and by “we” I mean MLAs, residents, communities, staff – have a pretty good idea of what is needed.

To the government I say, put money into the Health and Social Services budget and begin to attack the Mental Health and Addictions Program where it’s most needed: at the community level. With adequate supports, our people will start to turn around and become successful contributing members of our NWT society.

I fully support this motion. Addictions are the scourge which underlies our northern society, and it keeps us from a healthy life and a healthy society. This motion can start us on that long, difficult path to success, but we have to take the first step down that path. I urge all Members to support this motion.