Masi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not available].

Mr. Speaker, last week, I asked the Minister of Health and Social Services for a status report on progress relating to a promise made in this House on May 29, 2020, when the former Minister was in charge. The problem was that the department was studying the idea of providing residential addiction treatment here in the Northwest Territories as opposed to sending Northerners to southern institutions. The response last week was that a promise had not been followed up on. In fact, the Minister at that time denied any knowledge of it.

To refresh the Minister's memory, Mr. Speaker, I quote her deputy minister speaking before the House: "[...] what we could be doing here in the North [...] and might [...] be [better] opportunities to look at [...] treatment centre[s]? It is certainly something that's not off the table. It is something we are going to be looking at as a range of options to incorporate lessons learned out of COVID." If there is any possible doubt, Mr. Speaker, the quote continues: "[...] we are, absolutely, open to the idea of looking at [...] treatment centre, and we'll be taking a look at this question, and different treatment models as part of our planning forward."

Mr. Speaker, it disappoints me that the Minister and her department would treat their commitments so lightly, especially on such an important matter for the Northwest Territories. With this in mind, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of health at a later time. Masi.