Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Okay, thank you for that. Why doesn't the Minister listen to the will of the people and develop a plan to open a traditional Indigenous healing territorial addiction treatment program? Can the Minister provide data on the number of injuries or death related to drugs and alcohol since 2013, since the treatment centre was closed in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you treatment programs. Madam Speaker, according to the Canadian history, it is well documented that explorers and traders introduced alcohol in different ways to the Indigenous people, including the consumption of alcohol in official dealings and as a trade item. In other words, alcohol was used as a tool to influence Indigenous people and to benefit the explorer and fur traders. When alcohol was introduced to our people, alcohol abuse and destruction followed.

This alcohol abuse has continued over decades as Indigenous people in the Northwest Territories have continued to survive the...

Yes, yes, thank you. I would like to sit down with her and, you know, talk about this, and then possibly with the Tlicho government to promote tourism industry and regarding the visitors centre as well, because now that there's the allseason road going to Whati, you know, visitors centre is necessary in Tlicho region. It doesn't matter where it goes, either in Behchoko or in Whati, but there is a road there. So I really support that. And then I would like this government to continue working with the Tlicho government to support this initiative. So, yeah, so that is good. It's a good sign, I...

Thank you. I see in North Arm campground kitchen shelter. I know it's been you know, they've been working on it for quite some time. So I just want to ask the Minister, are we on time to complete this project?

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Speaker. With reference to the Minister's response to a previous question, it is really sad because and unfortunate because we have many people in the small communities who are suffering with trauma, especially with trauma experience especially from all the loss, loss of life due to addiction. We know that people want to heal and move forward. So with that in mind, will the Minister commit to a renewed approach and rebuild effective and respectful working relationship with Poundmaker's Lodge in order to renew the service contract and ensure Indigenous Northerners...

Why doesn't the Minister listen to the will of the people, is what I said. This is what the people want. And at the same time, can she provide the data on the number of injuries and death related to drugs and alcohol since 2013. So this is all related to the territorial treatment facility in the Northwest Territories. So that's what I was asking for, thank you and that is not my second question, so I am just replying to her. I still have two more questions, thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this is part of my question, okay. We all know Indigenous people in the Northwest Territories are struggling with alcohol and substance abuse, grief, loss, violence, and intergenerational trauma from colonization, residential school and systemic racism. Many want to go to treatment but are turning to alcohol and drugs to cope because the NWT does not have a territorialbased treatment facility. The overwhelming majority of the NWT residents want, a territorialbased treatment facility. Why doesn't the territory have a treatment facility located in the...

Yes, I understand about that being part of a community government council, yes, I do I do understand about how that we can you know, how to how to spend the money, where to spend the money. But I'm just saying that right now that in my region we have major infrastructure issues. And it's even to change the waterline that's aging especially in Edzo that's connected to the school, you know, that's going to cost, like, over $10 million. And I don't know like, that's why I'm saying it would be nice to see the numbers, like, how much money will be allocated to my region. And it says here...

Due to housing crisis, what we need is action. Mr. Speaker, how can this Assembly help the Government of the Northwest Territories transfer housing properties to the Indigenous government faster? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, this is regarding the bilateral agreement. So Mr. Speaker, many of our Indigenous governments have a keen interest in increasing the housing stock of their regions and communities. In its new mandate, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation commits to pursuing government to government relations with Indigenous government as she mentioned. This is a welcomed change towards developing bilateral relationships. Most of our Indigenous government are very interested in taking responsibility and taking over housing assets from the GNWT. I want to ask the Minister, what is the...