Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway has now been open for just over two months, opening up a whole new world of choices for employment, education, trading, shopping, commerce, and travel. The residents of Tuktoyaktuk have looked forward to this day for a long time, and they're ready to take advantage of the opportunities the new highway opens to them. But, Mr. Speaker, Northerners are practical people. Even when change brings exciting benefits, we would like to know the risks and we would like to tackle them head-on. In this case, increased mobility and activity thanks to the new highway has also enabled easier access to drugs and alcohol and increased risks of community disruption.

During my recent constituency visit to Tuktoyaktuk, residents made it clear that action is needed. Residents spoke of increased reports of hard drugs entering the community and raised their concerns that the community will join the ranks of Canadian towns suffering due to fentanyl addiction. Although the local RCMP are doing their best, the detachment is understaffed for these new demands, Mr. Speaker, and addictions in the community may very well worsen with the legalization of cannabis later this year.

Mr. Speaker, Inuvialuit have been resilient and have been coping with the impacts of the highway and other factors. They need immediate and ongoing support for first responders such as RCMP and health workers as well as mental health workers, Mr. Speaker. This will provide a service very much needed in the region to support our residents.

Mr. Speaker, we know that the Department of Health and Social Services is working on an addiction recovery action plan. That plan must include careful consideration of how the government, Indigenous governments, communities, and Northerners can work together to combat addictions in our small communities, especially those that are like Tuktoyaktuk, facing sudden and dramatic changes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.