Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to take this opportunity to thank Minister Miltenberger, the Minister for Health and Social Services, for attending the grand opening of a long-anticipated facility in Hay River that’s been under construction. On April 28th we had the grand opening of the Hay River Supported Living Day Program Centre. Prior to that, Mr. Speaker, we had the official opening of the campus, the rooms, the homes where the clients reside.
I would like to just say that since the campus opened two years ago, it has helped people with disabilities live productive, independent, and meaningful lives within the community and our territory. It is equipped to house up to 12 residents, including two beds for respite care.
With the opening of the Day Program Centre, programs will now be offered to both residents and clients from the surrounding area of Hay River. The centre will provide residents with an opportunity for personal growth, life skills, and peer and social supports.
The opening of this facility in Hay River is about repatriating Northerners to the North, something that we’ve talked about for a long time. It is important for many reasons. The jobs of the caregivers are jobs which are provided to northern residents. The economy associated with those jobs and those activities stays in the North. Most importantly, the clients who we were before referring to southern institutions now have an opportunity to stay in the North.
I believe we need to look at every opportunity, not just talk about it but let’s do it, talk about it, and observe and respond to every opportunity where we have as the Government of the Northwest Territories to care for our people and residents with special needs here in the Northwest Territories.
I would like to thank the government. I know the Minister has only been in this position for a short while, but this entire government played a large role in seeing this facility built in Hay River. It is fully functioning now and I believe it is serving the intended purpose and I believe it is a very good day for Hay River and the North.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
