Thank you. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair, and I'm sure that this will come up when we talk about main estimates as far as home care supports.
In order for people to be supported by home care policies and to be supported by home care workers, they need to have a home that is suitable to live in and so I guess this is more of a housing question, but I'm just wondering if Health and Social Services is actively working on housing for seniors then with the Housing Corporation, and I guess that that was addressed more specifically with Nunakput than in terms of elders facilities. Thank you.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Well, we as mentioned earlier, we have made a $5 million contribution to the Avens pavilion in the form of constructing providing money to construct their new kitchen and laundry facilities. So we're involved in that way. I don't think that we have other housing projects that that we're directly involved with as the housing provider but more, as I say, what we're what we're doing is is helping people to stay in their homes with personal support worker and nursing services. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Monfwi.
Thank you. This is reference to the longterm care facility. But so at this time, I would like to say we are fortunate in Tlicho region that Wekweeti is going to be getting a nurse for the first time. So I think this is a good time to accommodate the longterm care program Ms. Green just mentioned, talked about. So what Wekweeti needs is that in order to promote the longterm care program, Wekweeti needs a health care facility of its own to accommodate a livein quarter for the nurse, which Gameti has that facility already. Because right now, the health care centre or the office space is in the community government of Wekweeti's building, and it's in the public area. So I think if we can look into that further and put it, you know, to accommodate Wekweeti people so Elders don't have to go far from their home communities. So I think this a best time this is a good time now that we have a nurse coming in to accommodate Wekweeti for the new health centre. Thank you.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Yes, thank you. I don't have the 20year plan for infrastructure acquisition with me. But I'm sure that Mr. Heath does, and he can tell you whether there is a plan coming forward for Wekweeti. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Sorry, Mr. Heath.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Wekweeti is obviously one of our smaller communities. We classify it as a Level A facility. The population's around approximately 250. It's our understanding the facility is in a reasonably good technical condition. It is on our needs assessment but it's quite a few years out. It's not planned for in the current five year capital plan. It's beyond that. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Heath. Member for Monfwi, did you have any further questions?
I think I believe I heard him say population has to be 250. Did he say that? Or what did I didn't hear. I think that's what he said, hey?
Mr. Heath, clarify.
I said in and around, there's not exactly 250, but communities of that size, not exactly 250. Thank you, Madam.
Thank you. Member for Monfwi.
Yeah, I know there are other communities with less than that population they have that facility. So I don't think Wekweeti it's about over an hour with the flight. So I think it is time now that because they've been you know, we've been leaving them out the system has been leaving them out for so long. And for the first time, they're getting a nurse in their community so which is good, you know. And they are happy about it. But they would like to see more program and services being offered to their communities. And especially with the health care system, especially, you know, get a new health centre and that will promote jobs for the community as well and maybe have a local trained as a nurse. And there's going to be a lot of good opportunities that's going to be coming along with it too. So that's why I'm saying that, you know, it will be nice to put it in the capital plan. I know he said it's not in the within the five years but it should be noted it should be in the plan. And I'm not too sure if when was the last time they did a stats for Tlicho region for statistics on populations. Thank you.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Yes, thank you. I'm not sure, and I would be interested to know how often the plans are reviewed and updated. So that's a question I'll ask Mr. Heath.
Mr. Heath.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So we wouldn't do the population projections. That would be done by the bureau of stats. I actually don't know offhand the last time that the bureau of stats updated it. I don't think it was that long ago. But we look at our 20year needs assessment on an annual basis, and we do basically what they call a VFA report which is a technical assessment of our conditions of our facilities and we rank them on the basis of priority which is laid out in our capital plan.
This project is on our needs assessment but like I said previously, it's not within the five years. We will absolutely take a closer look at that facility in the future and have an update. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Heath. Any further questions? All right. So Health and Social Services, longterm and continuing care services, infrastructure investment, $38,538,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Members, please turn now to the departmental summary on page 33, Health and Social Services ,20222023 Capital Estimates, $49,614,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Does committee agree that consideration of the Department of Health and Social Services is now complete?
Agreed.
Thank you. And thank you, committee. Thank you to the Minister and her witnesses. And SergeantatArms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber.
Committee, we will now consider the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Does the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs wish to bring witnesses into the Chamber?
SergeantatArms, please escort the witness into the Chamber. Minister, please introduce your witness.
Thank you, Madam Chair. On my right is Deputy Minister Laura Gareau. Thank you.
Sorry, what was her last name?
You want me to do it again? Deputy Minister Laura Gareau.
Welcome. The committee has agreed to forego general comments. Is the committee agreed to proceed to the detail in the tabled document?
Agreed.
Thank you. Committee, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs begins on page 64. We'll defer the departmental totals and review the estimates by activity, beginning on page 65 with regional operations with information items on page 66. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess the first question is can I confirm that this is 100 percent flowthrough money that goes directly to communities.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
There's my yes for the year.
Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker Madam Chair. I appreciate I don't get a lot of yeses out of MACA so I'll cherish them.
I guess I'm a little frustrated that this number is actually going down. We added two and a half million dollars to the municipal funding gap last capital budget, and now it's not here. Can I get an updated figure of what, according to our own policy, the municipal funding gap for capital is at.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Come again, sorry, Madam Chair?
Member, can you repeat your question.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Can I get an updated figure of what the municipal funding gap for capital is presently at. I see we're giving communities $29 million here. If we were following the formula as we have set it, what should this number be. Thank you.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Members have asked us to work with NWTHC to look at what that gap is and we're working with them on that presently. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife North.
Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. I recognize there's some work being done to revisit the formula, which will then give us a new number, but I'm wondering right now what we quantify the gap being. I know we have a mandate commitment to reduce it by $5 million. I know we've made a lot of progress on the operations side and some on the environmental. I believe this is the largest part of the municipal funding gap according to the current formula we've agreed to. Can I just get a numerical figure of how short it is right now?
Thank you, Member. Minister.
For the detail, I'll turn to the deputy minister. Thank you.
Thank you. Deputy minister Gareau.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, the current municipal funding gap related to Cabinet is approximately $20 million. Thank you, Madam Chair.
