Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had mentioned here earlier in my Member’s statement, my question to the Minister of Health and Social Services about the newly constructed, still underway, facility in Norman Wells providing a modern medical care system to the residents of the whole area. It's the first of its kind in the area to also provide long-term care units and availability to 18 seniors in our community and our area. Taking into account a building of such, there's a transitional phase that would take place prior to the building being functional and ready to provide that service. I'm asking the Minister if I can get a copy of the transitional plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, within the budget there are actually some dollars allocated for the transition from the old facility into the new facility. It's about $200,000. Our intention is to develop a transition plan, but we do have a bit of time. This facility doesn't open until tentatively March 2017, so the transition plan hasn't been fully formed. Once it’s done, I'm happy to share it with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In that case, my next question, Mr. Speaker, is to seek who is actually holding the transition plan. When I talked to the CEO in Norman Wells, she says they're moving in in November. So actually, which is it?
I’d need to confirm. The information I'm familiar with suggests that we will take ownership of that building in March 2017, at which point we will start moving into an official opening of the building. I don't believe a date has been determined, but I will talk to the CEO to see which date she is working on.
My next question to the Minister is: If there is going to be a transitional plan for a portion of the department moving into the building this coming November, can the Minister provide the documentation to discuss some of the logistics and staffing that would be eventually included in the transitional plan?
Some initial work was done identifying the types of positions that would be required in that new facility as a result of it taking a new function in the Sahtu. The 18 long-term care beds was something that didn't exist in the region before. I'm happy to share the information that we have as we develop a transition report. I'm happy to have a sit-down with the Member and bring him up to speed on what's happening in that region. I do believe we have a bit of time. It's my understanding, as I indicated, that we're not taking ownership of that building until March 31, 2017, so we still have a bit of time.
I welcome the Minister's invitation and look forward to our further dialogue and meeting on that.
Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
