Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Today in the Northwest Territories, everyone is dealing with the alcohol and drug problem. We do not have a treatment centre in the Northwest Territories. We used to have one, but we no longer have one. Anyone who wants to go to treatment, they go down south, and monies are being spent on it. [Translation ends].

Mr. Speaker, we spent a quarter of a million dollars last year sending Northerners south for residential treatment. This is a leakage of revenue that could have been spent on northern jobs and business opportunities. However, more tragically, it is a disservice to Northerners who stand a better chance at recovering when their addiction treatment is provided here in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, recalling a recent statement in this House, I am encouraged that the sad state of affairs may soon be over. I refer to a promise last June by the then Health and Social Services Minister, who was looking into again providing residential treatment here in the territory. This was partly in response to the difficulties of travel during the pandemic, but it was also in response to the department's mental health and addiction recovery action plan tabled in 2019, which promised more options for community-based addiction recovery.

Mr. Speaker, I asked the government in May for a progress report on this plan for restoration of residential treatment here in the territory. I asked for it to be provided during this sitting. At the appropriate time, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services about how her department is progressing on this very important issue. Masi.