Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
WHEREAS the rate of violent crime is on the rise in the Northwest Territories;
AND WHEREAS the RCMP have publicly acknowledged the link between drugs and unprecedented homicides in the Northwest Territories;
AND WHEREAS the RCMP have publicly stated they appear to be the only resource to deal with mental health emergencies;
AND WHEREAS the RCMP responding to a mental health crisis is time consuming and uses significant valuable RCMP resources that could be managed by a worker trained to respond to mental health crises;
AND WHEREAS support for Northwest Territories-trained social workers through Aurora College, mental health and addictions education programming that emphasizes on skills that help those deal with mental health crises and challenges, can be an opportunity to help Northerners helping Northerners;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Member for Range Lake, that the Government of the Northwest Territories work in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to implement a crisis intervention team through a partnership that supports the response to mental health emergencies at an appropriately staffed level in order to maintain 24/7 support;
AND FURTHERMORE, the purpose of the crisis intervention workers is to enhance the response and reduce police contact in mental health-related emergencies and allow the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to focus their efforts on disrupting the drug trade in the Northwest Territories;
AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to this motion within 120 days.
Thank you.