Statements in Debates
As I indicated, I agree with the Member that it’s important for us to get in there and have those conversations, and obviously, input from the community and the region is critical and important. I could give an example of where that really benefited was actually in Fort Providence in the discussions with the community and the professionals in that community. It actually resulted in a holding room, a body – I hate the term – but, a body holding room, a morgue, of sorts, being included in that facility, which was something the community really wanted to see.
So, I agree that conversations are...
Mr. Chair, understood, agreed. The CEO will be going into Tulita to meet with the staff and attempt to address the problem and give us a better idea of how long it will take to address. I will absolutely keep the Member informed as we move forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As mentioned yesterday during Committee of the Whole, we’re in the process of doing a planning study on that facility. We expect that to take another couple months, and from there that will help dictate how we move forward as far as inserting this particular project in the capital planning process.
But I do agree with the Member; this is a facility that needs to be replaced, but we just need to figure out how it fits based on the planning study.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’ll say it again, there’s no intention and we will not be privatizing the delivery of medical and health services in the Northwest Territories, just so we’re incredibly clear.
This is a multi-year project. The RFP went out earlier this fiscal year. We have narrowed it down to three proponents. Discussions are happening with those proponents and we hope to have a proponent and move forward with a contract with that proponent. That, I believe, is expected to be June, if everything moves forward according to plan. Then there will be more of a design phase. That will be the...
The Member and I are actually talking about the same project at Fort Good Hope, and they have approached us, as well as Housing Corp and Justice because there’s an opportunity for everybody to work together to try and find some opportunities for Fort Good Hope, driven and led by Fort Good Hope.
I would like the deputy minister to talk a little bit about what we’re doing around housing for individuals that need temporary housing, safe shelters. Thank you.
As we roll out the last year, it is going to include some tweaking and training of the individual staff so that they know how to use the system properly.
With respect to the Woodland, absolutely agree. Unfortunately, we can’t count this as new beds because this is replacing beds that we’re losing, so we don’t get to count this as more beds. It does not change our ultimate count, whereas Norman Wells and Behchoko clearly do.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member also talked a little bit about the isolation room in the Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services Health Centre. The program design is currently underway. We anticipate construction of that isolation room, or renovation of that isolation room to begin no later than March, with conclusion early in the new fiscal year. It will be part this fiscal year, part next fiscal year.
The Member also talked about our need to plan and have a plan for long-term care beds in the Northwest Territories. I can confirm for you today, and I believe we have mentioned it in...
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Member, in his comments, also questioned or had some questions around communication. We do have a communications plan in place; we do have a website that individuals can go to, to get additional information. As we move down the individual steps, the lead department will be making sure that that information is public and made aware, and we will continue to work with our partners like the UNW if indeed any positions are affected.
Just in closing on this project, we know this is a massive project, the largest individual build that we’ve ever participated or led in the...
Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my left, Debbie DeLancey, deputy minister of Health and Social Services; and on my right, Perry Heath, director of infrastructure. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We maintain ownership of the property, the infrastructure and the resources that are in that building. If it is negotiated in a particular way, we may contract out the maintenance of the facility, but that has yet to be determined, and as I’ve said previously, it is still a giant ‘if’.