Michael Miltenberger

We could track, and we do track, the statistics in jails where the majority of the crimes are alcohol related, and the occupancies of our family violence shelters, of our group homes, of the number of children in care that indicate that most of those issues which have alcohol related somewhere in that process. In terms of those that actually go through the door of a treatment centre or make use of community services, there is some tracking done, but that’s more on an individual basis. Thank you.

There are a number of ways to do that. Some of the most obvious ones, of course, are to see if there are clients and if they return or if they don’t. If they don’t return, is it because they have successfully dealt with their addictions issues?

The fundamental issue goes way back. The Member talked about root causes and it’s something we all struggle with. The first, most fundamental issue is getting individuals born healthy. That’s probably the biggest challenge. As the Member has indicated, in Yellowknife there are concerns. It’s the ultimate, biggest magnet in the community we have. There...

I was under the impression that I committed to two things: to look at the information that the Member provided, as well of equal importance to look at what Northerners have learned and what experiences they have amassed and the things they have been able to do in a very, very effective way here in the North. I think there should be a combination of the two. So, yes, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents entitled Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2011-2012, and Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2011-2012.

Some of that work is already being done or has been done at headquarters. It is an issue that I, as well, am familiar with. I do have recollections of dealing with it when I was Minister previously. I’ll commit to the Member that that information update is available.

The Member raised this specific issue with me a couple of days ago. I’ve asked the deputy minister to get me the information so that I could get updated on the file, but I believe the circumstances are very similar to what were there when I was last Minister and the Member and I were having this discussion.

I have no quick response that I can give the Member in this House today, unfortunately.

As we have this dialogue in the House, I have staff making note, and I will commit to the Member that we will have discussions with the Health and Social Services Authority in Simpson to look at some of the concerns and possibly follow up for further clarification from the Member so that we can look at the right areas and to give the appropriate response to the Member.

In fact, the Member has the chronology wrong. I had to deal with this issue, as well, with constituents and inform them of what was covered and what was not. I’d also point out that there’s also an expectation that when people leave the Northwest Territories to go anywhere, if they do not have third-party coverage and they require any kind of medevac services in Alberta or any other jurisdiction, that is fully their cost. It’s not covered by anybody, any government, this or any other. It is a situation where people should be very cognizant when they go, of what the risks are and what kind of...

There is a coordinated approach. There are these broad programs, mental health and addictions programs, and all the other programs that are flowed through the various health boards. Each health board then in turn delivers those programs at a community level with the resources they have available with some common standards. There is a significant amount of work that was done in how addictions workers were going to get paid and what type of job descriptions. Mental health workers, community health workers, wellness workers. We’ve invested a significant amount of money in this area, and I agree...

I’ve done a number of fiscal updates in this House and we’ve pointed out very clearly some of the challenges that we face. Today alone we’ve heard requests for potentially significant investments in emergency evacuations and assisting communities in situations like Northland, autism, addictions. We have a huge list of things that people want us to invest in and at the same time be fiscally responsible.

We have a budget that’s fully subscribed to. The Member is asking for an increase to a program at a time when such a consideration is not possible. This year if there is an interest, there will...