Debates of October 27, 2006 (day 17)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question this morning is for Mr. Roland, the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, our government, this government, recently advised the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors that it has decided not to commit to funding for a new dementia centre in our three-year capital plan. We cited other competing needs, Mr. Speaker, and the bulging costs of construction that are affecting virtually anybody who wants to get anything built in the North these days.

Mr. Speaker, the need for this kind of facility is amply demonstrated. It is not, I would say, and many others are saying, it is not an option anymore. Mr. Speaker, when we return here in February we will be signing off on that three-year capital plan for the Department of Health. Will the Minister take a fresh look at the desperate need for this centre now and book this project in that three-year plan, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 206-15(5): Territorial Dementia Centre Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department has worked cooperatively with the Yellowknife Association for Concerned Citizens for Seniors and we will continue to do so. The department has met with them on a number of occasions, has worked and provided money for the planning, have received a plan for a new facility which is far and above the initial discussions that were put in place. The department has been in contact with them since the news was initially given by the previous Minister regarding the facility itself. As our capital plan works, as we put our plans forward, it is reviewed by this Assembly, as the Member has stated. Any new plan or capital project that is to go into the plan follows the process and then gets ranked and we then deal with it as a budget. Of course, this department has committed to put that plan, put the project back in the capital plan from the Department of Health and Social Services side, but at this time it did not make the cut for the next go around, but we’ll continue to pursue it as an important project to see if we can get it onto the plan. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 206-15(5): Territorial Dementia Centre Funding

Mr. Speaker, what is it going to take to convince the government that this is not something that can continue to be sidelined? The costs of providing care for these people in facilities that are not designed for it is, that is a very real aspect of the fiscal side of this, plus the impact on these people and their families. Mr. Speaker, what else is there in this whole agenda that the government needs to see that will convince it that this must be treated as a priority and not an option?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 206-15(5): Territorial Dementia Centre Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as our process works, each department would put forward its capital plan and then it goes through a capital planning process which meets with seniors' capital planning committee, then through the deputy ministers and then forwarded to the FMB and Cabinet for a decision to build the business plan and present the Members in this House. The department has included it as an important facility. It did not make the cut through the process, so we’ll have to go back to the phase and put it back in. It remains a priority for this government. Ultimately it comes down to the fact that as a government we don’t have the dollars in the capital plan to address all our needs and then it becomes a matter of ranking. If this Assembly feels that there needs to be some other projects put off to make room for this, that is something that can be considered, but at this time it has not made its way onto the capital plan. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 206-15(5): Territorial Dementia Centre Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am well aware and I know my colleagues are well aware of the process. It is the struggle that we’re all engaging in to get those most needed facilities, those most urgent to the top of the process and that’s what we’re engaged in. Now, Mr. Speaker, the YACCS organization has provided an alternative by which they would finance the construction of this facility as an option to the government itself financing it. Is that a proposal that is under active consideration along with our own financing, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 206-15(5): Territorial Dementia Centre Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a number of options were looked at for this facility. Ultimately it still comes down to the fact that even if we enter into a leasing arrangement we have to account for those dollars in the leasing agreement and build that into the plan. Because it is a very specified facility for a very specific group of individuals and people and how that would be served, we would look at that as being a facility that we would rather own than lease. So I know it’s been worked about, discussed. I have directed the department to contact the organization to look at the plan again to see what we could do to come up with an arrangement that would be something that might be able to fit in in the plans as we go forward. A letter has just gone out recently from the deputy minister. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 206-15(5): Territorial Dementia Centre Funding

Mr. Speaker, as we continue then to go along without a facility for these people and at least in the given future, there is certainly a desperate need now for these people and their families to provide home care, day programs, support for this extremely debilitating and devastating situation in their lives. Is our government going to look at establishing and enabling more of this kind of support to go along at least until we have a facility able to care for them, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 206-15(5): Territorial Dementia Centre Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department continues to do its best to provide a level of service for people who are in this area. It is very difficult for families who have to work with their own family members as well as adapting our existing resources to try and help out where we can and we will continue to do that within our existing resources to try and help those families who find themselves in this situation, as well as continue to work cooperatively with the YACCS group to try and come up with a solution that can hopefully meet the needs as we move forward. Thank you.