Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last sitting the House passed Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act, on the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, and the report from that committee had 15 recommendations, which I would like to speak to today.

During the four public hearings for Bill 24, the people’s voice was heard loud and clear and a large part of what committee members heard was a cry for help. Many of the expressed concerns were well beyond the scope of the bill. As a result, the committee felt that their report must include recommendations, which went beyond the limited scope of Bill 24.

The 15 recommendations in the Government Operations report are addressed to six different GNWT departments: Health and Social Services; Education, Culture and Employment; Justice; Finance and the NWT Liquor Commission; Municipal and Community Affairs; and Transportation.

Five of the recommendations are addressed to Health and Social Services: to increase addictions awareness, prevention programs, treatment and detox programs, and after-care. Some of them are already partially addressed in the updated Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan, like the on-the-land programs and after-care treatment, though many others are not, like the recommendations to increase awareness and prevention programs related to alcohol consumption and abuse, like a residential treatment facility.

The Department of Justice was asked to consider four recommendations around bootlegging and bootleggers. They were also asked to provide a safe house in every community as part of community safety plans.

Finance and the Liquor Commission are asked to consider three recommendations around alcohol sales and restrictions and to use a portion of the profits from liquor sales for addictions awareness and treatment.

The GNWT has yet to respond to the recommendations laid out in the standing committee report.

I’ve said before that alcohol is a scourge in our territory. In order to rid ourselves of that scourge, we have to act on the recommendations in the Government Operations committee report. Is the government in the process of doing that? I don’t know, but I certainly hope so and I look forward to a prompt response to these recommendations from the government.

I will have some questions for the Premier at the appropriate time. Thank you.