Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement is on substance abuse programs. Communities all across the Territories are continuously struggling with severe substance abuse problems. I’m sad to say that we’re leading in Canada in many of these areas as this problem progresses. Even more sad to say is that communities are coping with these challenges alone and there is very little support from this government.

I have spoken with the mayor of Tuktoyaktuk. He appreciates a contribution commitment for the years to run their centre. We hope we can start helping the people in similar ways as...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is in regards to the JRP report. When I was the past mayor of Tuktoyaktuk, I was in full support of the pipeline on a go-forward basis. I am still a big proponent of the push that I would like to see this project go.

Mr. Chairman, people in the Beaufort-Delta right now need jobs. People are not working. There is nothing going on. You have almost highlight companies that are almost going under right now due to lack of work and the lack of the federal government. I wish they would put more to the all-weather road between Tuk and Inuvik to keep businesses both in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to go back to item 5 on the orders of the day. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

The key word in that reply was “most,” Mr. Speaker. Will the government adapt a duel system that will provide an equal number of days for post-program assistance in their home communities once the person, for example, a participant spends 30 days in an addiction program, will the government give a minimum of 30 days’ professional support in their home communities? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I see the government continues to spend millions out of province in support resources only for participants to return to their home communities without aftercare. That’s not only not compassionate, it makes no business sense, Mr. Speaker.

The root of all problems comes from these issues: kids not doing well in school, people in an endless cycle of social assistance, and dependencies on drugs and alcohol. The fact the communities lack real support from returning from substance abuse treatment is a shame, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social...

This report took five years from the JRP to get handed in. We have businesses in the delta that you know of in Inuvik and Tuk and Aklavik that are relying on this project. Not only this project, the people are having... There’s no work up there, no economic benefits and nothing going on right now other than building, if you’re a carpenter. No roadwork or anything. At the end of the day, this government has to take a step.

I thought we were too lax on not pushing this thing forward as hard as we should have. The Minister is doing a good job on working with the federal Minister, but I think the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement was regarding the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline and the government’s stance on going forward. I just want to ask the Minister if the government is devoting the resource and attention to this megaproject and if the government will involve the MLAs up and down the delta, up and down the valley, community leaders, to push forward from an all-inclusive campaign group to work with this project.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement is on the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project. Mr. Speaker, last month the National Energy Board wrapped up final discussions in Inuvik, and hopefully if all goes well the NEB will make their final ruling regarding the megaproject within the next several months. These discussions have been ongoing in one way or another for decades.

Every time this project gets delayed it goes through another series of discussions, and the chance the program won’t happen increases. This may be okay for the southern NWT, but the north needs this project. We do not...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline, I just want to make sure that our government is taking the proper steps in pushing forward this project so the people of the Territories... This is probably going to be the biggest project ever for us in Canada. Everybody wants to do it right. We have to find some stimulus to get people working up in the delta. Just want to make sure there are timelines and we have to stick to them.

The Minister said keeping on the timelines. Last year they took almost five years for this. I really hope that the federal government and our government don’t take that long regarding hearing back from the NEB. Will we be working with the federal Minister and our Minister regarding keeping the timelines and keeping them on track on the date that is set already, and when is that date?