Lesa Semmler

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, a lot of these projections, you know, when we look at what we have on the waitlist, we use a lot of the data within -- that we have in our system. We initiated intereye, which is a system that will help also. And for more further detail, I can pass it on to the ADM if that's okay with you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I look at what non-medical escorts that have been denied, I don't have that data. I can find out if the department tracks that data as to breaking it down to who was denied or what the reason was denied or -- and when I look at -- when they say denied, it's they don't meet the criteria. So within the medical travel policy, some people may not meet the criteria, or the person who's recommending the non-medical escort may not put in detail and are aware of the policy so that they need to ensure that they document what those reasons are so that the medical travel...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we are currently working on the review of the bed projections. I think there was a commitment that this would be done every five years, and we are currently working on these -- this current, the bed projections. And those numbers are also going to help guide us with the projects that are on here that are in the planning stages, so I'll leave it at that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the vacant positions within other departments, you know, health and social services is an enormous department, it is the largest department, and if I -- if I start eating up all of their vacant positions that they may be trying to recruit for or having trouble recruit for, I don't think my colleagues would be too happy with me. But what I can do is, like I mentioned to the Member, is I can commit to looking at what the needs are of the people of the Sahtu. I travelled with the Member. I heard a lot of different scenarios with -- along the lines of medical...

Current long-term care beds we have are 204. And then we have a number of residents residing in long-term care beds, 182. And people on the waitlist, 35 currently.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, many of our programs that are federally funded are -- you know, they're allocated as to certain area that is are, you know, priorities of the federal government. And so we have to try and fit the needs of the Northwest Territories into that. However, you know, with the medical travel, you know, what I can do is I can commit to ensuring that we review as part of our process under reviewing medical travel where our staff are located, and where are they located it best meets the needs of the territory and the residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I would have to get back to the Member for that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what I will do is I will get the information so that I'm not saying the wrong thing on the floor and get back to the Members with an answer to that question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, if I -- the first part of the question is the occupancy date for the wellness and recovery centre would be late 2026. If -- and then for the TTC building, as the Member has referred to, I will put -- bring that over to -- pass that over to the ADM to respond to that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for that question because that's the same question that I'd asked the department as to why could we do things during COVID and we can't do them now, and it's privacy, and there were exceptions made during the public health emergency that allowed for certain things that wouldn't meet the standards of our privacy. And so we are looking into those options right now as to what tool could be used. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.