Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for reaffirming that commitment here in the House. I thank you very much. In regards to this building here, these seven units, is there any better ranking for stick-built versus modular, or is it whatever comes in at the cheapest? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. All the applications or proposals are reviewed on the same criteria, although we are conscious that we do want to support northern businesses and preferably businesses in or close to the communities that are providing the services. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think I sort of kind of heard an answer, maybe I didn't. If my understanding is correct, and this is kind of a yes or no answer, it is just the bottom line. We look at it, if you provide these requirements, it is the bottom line. Whatever is the cheapest is what the corporation actually purchases. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, that is not correct. Price is one factor that we look at. There are a variety of factors that we look at when we define who will be the successful bidder, such as the northern -- the business incentive policy process, whether they are locally, whether they are community. So there are a number of factors that we look at when we determine who will be the winning component. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister again. I think we are working forward towards an answer. I guess my concern though is with modular homes being built, whether it is in the North or down south, the tradespeople in the communities are saying they are very difficult to maintain. When I say maintain, when damages happen to them, and they don't last as a stick-built does. So is this part of the proposal? Does the corporation actually look at this as part of their proposal? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister, there is one minute left in Mr. Thompson's time if you'd like to respond.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The lifespan that we're working towards with both, either modular, stick built or panel, all of them is a 50-year lifespan, so we are working towards that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson, 30 seconds.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that answer and I'm hoping that these units will actually stay more than the 20 years that I have been advised with the challenges out there with modular homes, and I'm looking forward to a Northerner bringing these facilities into the community. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Seeing no new names on my list I'll allow Mr. McNeely to speak again. Mr. McNeely.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. When I look at the list there on 70, 71 and the page prior 69, in alphabetical order on capital projects for the communities I don't see the little community of Colville Lake on there. My question is: during your survey needs assessment, reviews, allocation do you take into account seasonal access?
Because a little community like Colville or Deline is not on the list because of the fact they're inland away from the river. In case there's a barge that could mobilize materials and buildings in during the summer season as well as take advantage over the winter season the only ones that are left open for a one-per-year access is Colville and Deline, so do you take that into account? Because if you miss the whole year poor little Colville Lake is not going to get a house there until year two, so does the department take that seasonal access into account? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, the department does take into consideration seasonal access. Colville Lake is one community that I haven't been to yet and I want to go to. The units, though, in Colville Lake actually have a high condition rating.
So over the last ten years the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has invested $2.6 million into capital in Colville Lake and $826,000 into home ownership and minor programs. In the last five years we built two public housing units in that community, and this current year we're building two affordable housing units in that community. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. McNeely.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's a comment, not a question. I'm just happy to hear that the department takes the seasonal access communities in their review and assessment and allocation. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. McNeely. I see no further comments from committee. As I stated this is an information item so we do not need to vote on it, but does committee agree that we have concluded consideration of the NWT Housing Corporation?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. I'd like to thank the witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Thank you, Minister.
Thank you, committee. Next we have agreed to consider the Department of Health and Social Services. Would the Minister like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?
Yes, please.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Would the Minister please introduce his witnesses?
Thank you, Mr. Chair. With me on my left is Derek Elkin, assistant Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, and on my right Perry Heath who is the director of infrastructure planning.
Thank you, Minister, and welcome to the witnesses. The Department of Health and Social Services begins on page 30. First I will open the floor to general comments from committee. Do we have general comments?
I see no general comments. We will defer consideration of the total capital estimate until we consider the detail beginning on page 31. Comments, questions page 31, administrative and support services with related information on page 32. I'll give committee a moment. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I'm just wondering if the Minister can tell us whether the Stanton project is still on schedule? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.
Yes, it is, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. So the estimates here, there's no variance then from what we had anticipated spending on Stanton? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Abernethy.
No, there isn't, Mr. Chair, as far as I'm aware.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I think I heard an interesting phrase at the end, "as far as I know." So is there a variance or not? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.
No variance, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for that confirmation. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks. That's all I had.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Further to this section. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know the Minister has heard this numerous times probably from my former Member from Nahendeh and again from me on the floor: what's not in here? My biggest concern is our health centre in our region, which is a regional centre, which works with six communities and is addressing it. So I don't see Phase 2 of this in here or has that already been voted on? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the planning study for the Fort Simpson Health Centre is in this fiscal year, so there is no money showing up for next fiscal year. We plan to have that work done this fiscal year.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that answer. I guess I'm a little bit confused with the process, because there's a Phase 1 and a Phase 2. From what I've been told they're looking for land and they found the land. Now they're looking at coming up with a diagram or a project for this facility or the creation of it, so I'm trying to understand where that is part of the capital plan process. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The budget for the planning study is in Public Works and Services. We have been working on this project for a number of years. We had obviously hoped to have this moved forward previously but we had more difficulty gaining community acceptance of the parcel of land that would be utilized for the new health centre. It took longer than anticipated, which obviously delayed our ability to do a planning study. You can't do the planning study until you have the land because, if you're talking about design, build, how the facility is going to look, what programs you're going to need, you do have to have a sense of where the location is going to be. Unfortunately, it took longer to get to the planning study than we had hoped. As a result, we will not have the planning study done until the end of this fiscal year. As I've said in the House and I've said in the committee and I've said to the Member, the earliest we could see Fort Simpson getting into the capital plan is 20182019. I do have to note that it will have to compete against a large number of other projects, including health centres, school projects, and many, many other capital priorities of this Assembly.
Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Mr. Thompson.
