Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories' longterm care review program was completed way back in 2015, and it identified the overall need for longterm care in the Northwest Territories at 115 beds per thousand people aged 70 years and older.
The Inuvik area services 3,200 people, Mr. Speaker, of which 11.6 percent are over the age of 70. This equates to a need for 43 beds. As such, the GNWT determined that a 48bed facility would address the short and longterm needs of the Inuvik area.
Mr. Speaker, in 2018 the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Gwich'in Tribal Council jointly developed and submitted an operational plan based on the best practices of longterm residential care. It was created in alignment with key GNWT documents, including the integrated service delivery model, continuing care framework and action plan Our Elders Our Community, Northwest Territories longterm care program review, Northwest Territories continuing care standards, and other relevant documents.
Mr. Speaker, the government has filed a proposal to establish a board of directors for the facility that is comprised of representatives appointed by the Gwich'in Tribal Council, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, and Government of the Northwest Territories, including community members to reflect the region's population and expected clients. Mr. Speaker, while community representation is paramount, the exact governance structure would depend on the ownership model chosen for the facility and the operations.
Three basic alternatives were proposed. Alternative 1 would be GNWTowned and the Indigenous government operates. This alternative would see GNWT go to tender, design, and build or design/build a facility and would continue to own/maintain a facility but enter into a longterm operations contract with the Indigenous governments providing the ongoing health care.
Alternative 2, Mr. Speaker, would be that the Indigenous governments would own, and the GNWT would operate. This alternative would see the Indigenous governments design, build, own, maintain the facility through a sole source negotiated contract, and then lease the facility to GNWT for longterm care operations. The Indigenous governments will work to supplement reasonable shortfalls in federal and territorial capital health funding through a combination of equity and commercial financing and would partner with an industry leading design build contractor to construct the facility and use its internal resources to maintain the facility.
Mr. Speaker, alternative number 3 Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to continue my statement.
Unanimous consent granted
Colleagues, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, alternative 3 would be the Indigenous governments would own and operate. This alternative would see the Indigenous governments design, build, own, maintain the facilities through a sole source negotiated contract and enter into a longterm operations contract with the government to provide the ongoing health care. The Indigenous governments would, again, work to support reasonable shortfalls of federal and territorial capital health funding through a combination of equity and commercial financing.
Mr. Speaker, this is a much-needed facility in Inuvik, and I look forward to hearing what health and social services plans to do to make this a reality. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.
