Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to the Minister of Health and Social Services in the spirit of oversight on the Sahtu Regional Health Centre building to say that we are open for business. I first ask: when is the Department of Health and Social Services taking ownership of the building? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are expecting that substantial completion of the facility will be either late November or early December, at which point the government will take possession of the building. It does require that the Department of Infrastructure go in there and do some testing on some of the functional components of the building to make sure that it is all running properly. Once that has been verified, then the Department of Health and Social Services would take over the responsibility of the building. We would then go in there and start doing our assessments on some of the medical equipment and medical tools that are in that building before we start moving in. We are hoping to be fully operational in that building late spring, early summer at the very latest.
Thanks to the Minister for that reply on scheduling. In preparation for the open for business concept on the issue of staffing and accommodations, what preparation plans are in those two areas?
The job descriptions for the new facility have been written. We have experienced some delays getting them through job evaluation, but most of that is completed at this point. We are doing some anticipatory hiring. Advertisements have been posted for resident care aides, which was one of the new positions that is coming to the region. We are starting to roll out some of our staffing actions now in anticipation of opening that facility.
Thanks to the Minister for that deadline, open for business here and filling these positions that are incoming, as well as looking at the accommodations so that the people out there know what opportunities are available to apply for.
My third question is: when can the long-term clients be expected to be relocated to the new building, specifically clients who are residents of the Sahtu who are living elsewhere?
After the building opens.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for that shorter reply. My last question is: will the Minister keep monthly scheduling postings to our office here or the Members on this side of the transition?
I will certainly commit to keeping the Member up to date on where we are with progress on moving into that building. With respect to the last question, all placements in the Northwest Territories are determined through the Territorial Admission Committee. Residents of the Sahtu who are now living in other communities, whether it's in the Beaufort Delta or Yellowknife or Hay River or Fort Simpson, if they are interested in returning back to Norman Wells when the new facility opens, they should be getting in touch with the staff of the facilities they are in and looking to apply through Territorial Admission to express a desire to move back to the region. We are hoping that we will have people moved back to the region, as well as people who live in the region utilizing those facilities. Please have your residents review or follow up with the TAC, Territorial Admission Committee.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
