Yellowknife — May 31, 2022
Minister of Health and Social Services, Julie Green, provided the following statement on the 2021 Office of the Auditor General of Canada’s Report on Addictions Prevention and Recovery Services in the Northwest Territories.
“Countless NWT residents struggle with addictions in their lifetime. Many have struggled personally with substance use, while many others have watched a family member, or a friend, battle a dependency on drugs or alcohol. The impacts that come from these struggles are real and lasting, and they are what make the recommendations outlined in this audit a priority for me personally, and for the Department of Health and Social Services.
“The Department is committed to offering a system of support, based on programs and services that meet the needs of those afflicted by addictions. This audit provides important insight into those programs and services, and it provides us with a guide to improve that system of support, so we can better serve NWT residents.
“Providing safe, accessible, and responsive addictions services, to help people heal, is a priority for the Department and for the Health and Social Services Authorities. We value the findings of the auditor general, and this report helps us understand where our programs are on track and where we need to do better.
“My department and all three Health and Social Services Authorities participated fully and willingly with the OAG audit, and we have reviewed and accepted all seven recommendations in the report. Work to make improvements is already underway.
“The OAG audit speaks to the importance of aftercare, cultural safety, access to services, coordination of services, and client outcomes. Many of our initiatives that were in place or in development, at the time of the audit, align with these recommendations, including: the creation of a Cultural Safety and Anti-Racism Unit, the implementation of same-day access to counselling, the establishment of community-based funding programs, and taking steps to establish managed alcohol, detox, and transitional housing options for addictions recovery.
“Our response to the OAG audit contains clear commitments to action. The Department and the Authorities have already started this work, they have developed a detailed action plan, and we look forward to discussing this plan with Standing Committee on Government Operations.
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