Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we have been working on the infrastructure budget for 2013-2014, I’d like to voice my concerns over what is not in the budget or in any projections.
Construction of the new health centre in Hay River has begun. This facility will not have 10 long-term beds that are in the current facility. This is unbelievable. I understand the department’s justification that long-term beds are not effective in a hospital setting for both the patient and costs. My biggest problem is that the department has known for some time now that this facility will not have long-term beds. However, no matching infrastructure money has been placed in the budget to provide this essential service to Hay River. What does the department expect the community of Hay River to do without these long-term beds?
Hay River is the second largest community in the Northwest Territories. Does this government expect their seniors to travel out of the community? This is unbelievable.
The Department of Health, in public discussions and communications, has indicated that they have to assess the current demands in the North. Have we not been building similar facilities throughout the North? There is no plan? The department only needs to pick up a paper or look at any statistical information and see that the population is getting older, and Hay River is no different.
This is hard to accept that we do not have a plan. How long will it take the department to come up to speed on this issue? Hay River residents are getting nervous as the government seems to be dragging their feet on fixing this mistake. How could we have not placed the budget line item to replace a service as essential as long-term beds in the community of Hay River?
Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
