Kevin A. Menicoche

The Minister was with me in Fort Simpson in the springtime. The residents wanted to be involved in the planning study, so I just wanted to assure that the Minister has heard that, that part of the instructions of the planning study is to engage in the community, the mayor, the Village of Fort Simpson, the LKFN and the Metis local there. Engage the community and show exactly what type of facility we are building. Even as far as the floor plan, we want to see what’s in there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was pleased to hear Ms. Nancy Noseworthy’s name mentioned. She’s a resident of Fort Simpson. Welcome to the gallery. I hope you’re enjoying yourself here this week. Mahsi cho. Great to see you.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. The Fort Simpson Health Centre provides a range of health services to the residents of Nahendeh and the Deh Cho region. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, the existing facility requires replacement to adequately provide these services. There is an engineering report by Public Works and Services that shows that this infrastructure is aging, has structural deficiencies and is over 30 years old.

Serious consideration for replacement was discussed by the Department of Health and Social Services. It was even unofficially slated to be replaced by a new facility…

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Certainly the community must be engaged, because in other communities like Hay River and Providence, as they were constructing their health facility, there were some things overlooked, and something simple, more in the case of Fort Liard, was missed. Those things cannot be missed, especially that we’ve got a facility that will be there for the long term. So that’s part of the planning that community residents want to see the floor plan, and I think the Minister indicated in Committee of the Whole was a level B/C facility and we want to know exactly what that is.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the need to replace the Fort Simpson Health Centre and the planning for that.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, given that the engineering report dictates that we need a replacement health centre facility, exactly what stages are the Department of Health and Social Services at with addressing this situation? Thank you.

…means that it is classified as very important but is nowhere on the capital plan, even in the long term. The health centre staff and the residents of Nahendeh need answers. Where and when will this facility be built?

Quality health care services are being compromised by the lack of appropriate workspace with current health standards to deliver these services.

I urge the Minister of Health and Social Services to ensure that the Fort Simpson Health Centre replacement is funded and in the capital plan. The future health of our residents rests with the decision of this government.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Just a chance to address some of the capital issues regarding… Maybe I can begin in Fort Simpson. I think it was last year I remember the Fort Simpson health budget was actually on the capital plan. I had thought it was in the capital plan, but it certainly is a red flag now. I know that they’ve done the initial work. I think they’ve done a peer review of the project and now they’re looking at doing an RFP for the planning study. I just want to get some details on that. I know that the community is anxious. There has been a lot of discussion in the community and...

Thank you very much. I was wondering: would the Bison Management Strategy, once implemented, have, say, a 1-800 number that the residents can call specifically for this Nahanni bison herd? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to follow up on questions to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources with regard to the Bison Management Strategy and, most particularly, the Nahanni bison herd that’s causing grief to the residents of Fort Liard, Nahanni Butte and Lindberg Landing.

Has the draft Bison Management Strategy been completed?

Thank you very much. I think they have indicated that the foundation was reassessed. That’s contrary to the document that I have. So, maybe the Minister can commit to sharing with me the engineering reassessment, because it’s also the HVAC, or the heating ventilation, air conditioning system, too, that had some serious concerns. Still, meeting with the community is certainly a priority and I urge the department to continue to do that, meet with the Village of Fort Simpson, the mayor and the chief, as well, and the Metis Council.

Just for clarity for the request for proposal for the planning...