Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask questions to the Minister of Health and Social Services. What is the status of the Harriet Gladu Health Centre in Tulita?
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The Minister of Health, Mr. Beaulieu.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. The planning study for the new health centre in Tulita will be completed this fiscal year, the ’13-14 fiscal year. The hope is that after the planning study is completed that it will be included into the ’15-16 capital acquisition plan. Thank you.
Will the Minister reconsider bumping up the construction of the Harriet Gladu Health Centre earlier than ’15-16 into the capital? That means that this health centre, the way he explained it, will not probably be built until ‘17, ‘18 or ‘19. Can the Minister consider bumping up the inclusion of the health centre into earlier dates than ’15-16?
The decision on where the capital… Like, this lands on the overall infrastructure capital plan; it’s not mine. That decision is made by the House as a whole. What I can do is tell the Members that I will ensure that the planning study is completed this fiscal year and that the department will put the planning study into the capital acquisition plan for inclusion as quickly as possible. Thank you.
I certainly look forward to the Minister’s effort and support to finish off the planning study for the Harriet Gladu Health Centre. I’ve also asked him, too, because he is a Cabinet Minister and that has a little more weight in terms of what type of infrastructure gets put into the overall capital infrastructure on behalf of his department. I’m asking that. I know we’re up against some other significant health care facilities; however, the need for the Harriet Gladu Health Centre could possibly rank as one that needs to be put into an earlier date for construction.
I would ask the Minister if he will work with his colleagues and give this commitment to the people in Tulita and the Sahtu that he would do his darndest effort to put that into an earlier date than ’15-16.
As I indicated, we would do the planning study this fiscal year, and recognizing that the health centre in Tulita is about half the size it should be to accommodate the needs of the community will be a factor when we move this capital plan into the capital allocation process. That’s something that we’re going to indicate loud and clear, that this centre is inadequate for providing all of the services necessary to that community at this time.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
