A drug SA国际影视传媒渃risisSA国际影视传媒� in Hay River has prompted the creation of a new committee.

Town councillors passed a motion on March 7 that will establish a sub-committee to replace a more informal SA国际影视传媒榠nteragencySA国际影视传媒� group that has been meeting regularly with leading organizations in town.

While a terms of reference is yet to be struck, councillors advocating for the sub-committee want to see a similar representation to include the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Hay River , GNWT Department of Justice, Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre, Hay River Persons with Committee for Persons With Disabilities, Hay RiverSA国际影视传媒檚 two MLAs and the KSA国际影视传媒檃tlodeeche First Nation and West Point First Nation.

Mayor Kandis Jameson said because of two recent, sudden deaths in the last two weeks from drug overdoses that it is an opportune time to create a committee on council.

She said she sees the benefit of having a more structured group that can follow a terms of reference drafted under councilSA国际影视传媒檚 direction and see people appointed by and reporting to elected members.

SA国际影视传媒淚 do believe itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to take strong leadership and all of us working together to find solutions and hopefully try and mitigate some of the fallout from whatSA国际影视传媒檚 going on,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淵es, (as a municipality) weSA国际影视传媒檙e dogs, ditches and dumps but we as a community are only as strong as our weakest link and I think we have to look at how do we support what these groups are doing and how do we support each other.SA国际影视传媒�

Coun. Keith Dohey, who moved the motion for the sub-committeeSA国际影视传媒檚 creation during MondaySA国际影视传媒檚 meeting said he has been contacted by residents calling for more to be done to address drug-related activity.

SA国际影视传媒淚 had a lot of residents reach out to me, especially lately, that are increasingly concerned about the growing drug problem in the community,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

He added that he knows of six people who have died from drug use in the last year and that addictions are hurting people in the community.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e got people in the community that are profiting from death, and theySA国际影视传媒檙e dealing in the destruction of lives and families in our community,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of people are really reeling from it and donSA国际影视传媒檛 know where to turn People are afraid to speak up or wonSA国际影视传媒檛 speak up because they donSA国际影视传媒檛 think that (the drug issue) impacts them directly.SA国际影视传媒�

Dohey referenced officer Christopher Worden who was killed in the line of duty in 2007 while pursuing a suspect involved in the drug trade in Hay River.

The councillor pointed out that at the time of WordenSA国际影视传媒檚 death, residents rallied together and swore to never allow such an incident to happen again.

SA国际影视传媒淚 hate to say it, but I believe the drug problem in Hay River is worse now than it was then,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 think weSA国际影视传媒檙e in the midst of a crisis.SA国际影视传媒�

The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer reported in a public health advisory on Feb. 24 that an unspecified South Slave community saw two deaths, possibly due to opioid addiction.

SA国际影视传媒淭he concern is the deaths are due to opioid adulterants and that every NWT community is at risk of receiving these lethal, illicit drugs,SA国际影视传媒� the advisory stated.

Dohey said the committee needs to have representation from different groups in town because there are a multitude of challenges associated with drug use including housing shortages and the need for law enforcement.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think if we can identify together where there are gaps or things that are missed or maybe a shortage of resources and if weSA国际影视传媒檙e all pulling in the same direction together, I think we have the potential to do a lot of good,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 probably not any kind of magic bullet to solve this issue because itSA国际影视传媒檚 multi-pronged.SA国际影视传媒�

Coun. Robert Bouchard said he supported the creation of the committee as it will ensure action is taken on complex issues and that key groups are brought together to converse and share ideas.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think with the townSA国际影视传媒檚 structure weSA国际影视传媒檒l be able to lead the group forward and keep it on an agenda that is scheduled so that some stuff can get looked at anyway,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 where peak ideas come up and ideas that hopefully help the community in the long run.SA国际影视传媒�