Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, residents across the territory are wearing pink shirts in support of the national anti-bullying campaign. Pink Shirt Day has its origins in an incident when a child wore a pink shirt to school and was bullied for the colour of his shirt. It is reported that one in five children experience bullying, but it is likely that number is much higher. Bullying exists in many forms, including racism and discrimination, and can often lead to mental health and addiction issues. In some cases, when bullying is severe, it may lead to suicide and death. We must combat the effects of bullying by treating each other with empathy, kindness, and compassion. If you or your loved ones are experiencing or have experienced bullying, I urge you to seek out the supports that are available to you.

In the North, statistics show we are a population prone to addiction and mental health issues. The root of addiction has been closely linked to childhood trauma and abuse and, in particular, residential school impacts, when it comes to Indigenous populations. This has created a systemic cycle of addiction and mental health issues. People looking to escape from pain will often turn to substance abuse as a form of self-medication.

There are four components to a successful rehabilitation: counselling, detoxification, treatment, and recovery. Once an individual suffering from addictions receives counselling, they have taken the first step to reclaiming their life. Counsellors will help people to understand the steps required and prepare them for entering medical detoxification, or detox, when they are ready. A person cannot travel south nor enter a treatment program unless they are sober.

In a treatment facility, patients move forward in their progress working through the trauma and learning new coping skills. However, the journey doesn't end with treatment. Once a sober person emerges from a facility, they will need ongoing support, culturally appropriate after-care. On-the-land-based programs, trauma counselling, sober living facilities, online and social media supports, and sober event programming are all key components towards establishing a healthy support network for Northwest Territories recovering from addiction and mental health issues. Additionally, teaching life skills so people can re-enter society and contribute is equally important as self-worth is a key component of maintaining sobriety.

Currently, people are experiencing isolation like they have never seen before. This isolation is leading to an increase in the consumption of alcohol and cannabis, as well as exacerbating ongoing mental health issues. When our population is not healthy, nothing in our territory can prosper. It is time for us to ensure that we can revive our vulnerable residents with a full-scale rehabilitation program that accounts for all steps on the road to recovery and removes them from the cycle of rehab and relapse that is becoming far too normalized in the North. Thank you.