Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have questions to the Minister of Health and Social Services in regard to the requests the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors has had out there for quite some time now. They have been asking for support from this government in regard to planning money so they can move forward on building a dementia centre here in Yellowknife. It’s my opinion that they are addressing a need that isn’t directly their responsibility, but that impacts them. It’s a responsibility, in my mind, that belongs directly in the hands of government, yet this community organization is stepping forward and addressing the need on their own through a partnership program. So when will this government, when will the Minister of Health and Social Services step forward and help this organization that is addressing this community need, and when will he address it by giving them some planning money? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 44-15(4): Dementia Centre In Yellowknife

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, as far as I am aware, we have made a commitment to free up some funding to allow that planning to proceed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 44-15(4): Dementia Centre In Yellowknife

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Do they have the money in their hands as of today? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 44-15(4): Dementia Centre In Yellowknife

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, there has been an agreement reached between the Department of Health and Social Services and the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors on this project, but it is a cash flow issue. As far as I am aware, there is an agreement signed and that the chair is aware of it and that the deputies work directly with these folks and these matters are in hand. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 44-15(4): Dementia Centre In Yellowknife

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It’s my understanding that this money is tied to other money. So is this agreement binding that the GNWT will eventually come forward with this money, because, as I understood this, clearly they needed this planning money in the fall, and this community organization is willing to take out a mortgage and they are willing to fundraise for this facility. They need some money to move forward. So is this agreement binding and is it tied to anything so they keep waiting for it? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 44-15(4): Dementia Centre In Yellowknife

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this is planning money. We’ve been working with YACCS over the last couple of years to move this project along. It’s tied into a broader facilities plan to deal with the cognitively impaired and long-term care resources required across the North. At this point, we’ve committed to the planning dollars. There have been suggestions about how it could be financed, but there’s clearly more work that has to be done. It also has to be taken through due process once the design and everything is agreed to. There is a process that has to be followed with the committees and Cabinet to in fact be able to do that, but we’ve committed to the resources to help them continue the planning. We’re committed to seeing this process through, and it figures into our broader planning for long-term care. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 44-15(4): Dementia Centre In Yellowknife

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this government decided a couple of months ago we should throw $1.2 million in the pot to study some of the effects of a pipeline just like that. So I mean we’ve been talking about this project for a couple of years as the Minister admitted. When are we going to get off the pot and go forward and make a decision? We could make this decision today. We could take it to Cabinet and have it done before this Assembly, and if we needed to sit here a couple extra days, we could. I think there’s a willingness out there. This organization is willing to carry this mortgage, they want to see community development by community organizations, which I have to emphasize is the responsibility of government, but they are going to take control of this and they are going to address the need. So will I get a commitment from this Minister that we will expedite this process because they are waiting for this planning money to move forward? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 44-15(4): Dementia Centre In Yellowknife

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I’ll let the Member expedite, we’ll move in…(inaudible)…and we’ll try to expedite the process.

---Laughter

I’m not sure what pot he’s talking about, but the pot I have has some resources in it, both of which are fully subscribed to. We’ve committed to this process. We’ve agreed with YACCS on a way to proceed and we’re going to do just that. Thank you, Madam Speaker.