Mr. Speaker, a study for the Fort Simpson Health Centre was introduced in the 20-year needs assessment, targeted over the 2013-2014, 2014-2015, and 2015-2016. On February 5, 2015 according to then Minister of Health and Social Services, the study was delayed so that the department can complete a plan study for the Norman Wells Health Centre replacement. Will the Minister confirm that the study for the Fort Simpson Health Centre will be completed by this fiscal year? Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, the phase 1 planning study for the development of a health centre at Fort Simpson is currently underway and we anticipate that it'll be concluded during the 2016-2017 fiscal year. Once it's done, phase 2 of the planning study, which is basically the schematic design and will take us to a Class E estimate, will be done. We're hoping too to bring that project forward for consideration in the capital, but the earliest that we anticipate that we'll see it in the capital plan would be 2018-2019. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the Minister for his answer. He kind of answered question number two already, so I'll move on to question number three here. Mr. Speaker, on October 15, 2015 the then Minister cautioned that the health centre project in Fort Simpson will have to compete against a number of other priorities coming from several territorial departments such as Transportation, schools and Public Works.
Mr. Speaker, the then Minister quoted to CBC, it is based on needs, demands, programs, services, budgets and all these things. Again to address the concerns out there, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please explain why this project was delayed?
Mr. Speaker, there was a number of reasons that the project was delayed or rather the planning study was delayed. Part of that included our inability to obtain or secure a suitable parcel of land. Here was a significant amount of debate in the community about where the health centre should be and where it should not be, and it took us longer to get a set piece of land. That set piece of land was required before we could actually move forward with the planning study because the location helps us build the planning study.
When the parcel of land was actually approved we had to do an archaeological assessment on the property. That was something we committed to doing based on some understanding or historic knowledge that suggested there might be some graves on that site. We needed to make absolute certainty that there were no graves on the site we were proposing to build. So we had some delays to get us to the point where we can actually fully acquire that land and develop a planning study.
I will note, Mr. Speaker, that the Fort Simpson Health Centre is an aging facility. It was originally developed in 1973. But we have done a recent structural assessment on that property, which was completed in March 2016, which indicated that the facility is in stable condition. We need to modernize. Obviously there are new protocols, procedures in effect and control standards that we must meet. So we do need to move forward, but technically right now that building has a solid foundation, so it is a safe facility, which is a question that has been raised. I just wanted to address it while I had the opportunity.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his answer. Is there any work being done right now on the site that involves fencing off areas? Because I've heard there's a fenced-off area there. I apologize; it was just a question that I've just come up with right now. Is the Minister aware of that and, Mr. Speaker, can he answer if it's been there and what's going on with that site?
Mr. Speaker, I was in Simpson I think about two weeks ago, and I don't recall seeing any activity on that site. However, I would not be the best person to ask. The best person to ask would be the Minister responsible for Public Works and Services who is ultimately responsible for the construction of the facility. Health and Social Services has put in a request, we need a building, Public Works and Services will be the contractor and the builder -- or the facilitator of the contracting and building.
Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank, again, the Minister for his answer. I will ask later on to the Minister of PW. Again, it seems to get cleared who's responsible for who, so I'm learning as the time goes on. Is there any way that the Minister can commit to the people or the residents of the region that this needed facility will be actually potentially moved up? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm committed to moving this initiative forward. The community of Fort Simpson does need an upgrade to their health centre. We need to bring it to current standards. We are moving the planning process forward. I'm happy to move this into the capital planning process at the earliest opportunity, but it does have to compete with a number of projects across the Northwest Territories, whether it's schools, health centres in different locations, other infrastructure that are being demanded by residents of the Northwest Territories. We're doing the work. We're doing the planning. We hope to get it in as quickly as possible. We also have the Tulita Health Centre; we have the Jean Marie Health Cabin; we have the Sambaa K'e Health Cabin and a number of other projects that we're currently looking at, on top of building the Stanton facility, which is badly needed by the people of the Northwest Territories, as well as the Fort Resolution Health Centre. There's a lot of work being done, Mr. Speaker.
Item 7, oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
