David Krutko

Minister of Health, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think that we do have to seriously look at the capital investment in this portfolio, especially in the area of tourism and parks. I think that, if anything, we, as government, have basically let this department down by the lack of capital investment that we put into the area of tourism and parks, especially for the Northwest Territories when we look at the economic sector when it comes to tourism and the increased amount of road traffic we’re seeing. We have more tourists and on the Dempster Highway we’re seeing more and more RVs coming up the Dempster from Whitehorse...

Does committee agree that the Minister brings in witnesses?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just like to get clarification from the Minister in regards to when we go through the briefing for this particular department. It came to our attention that there was information that was being provided that the long-term care facility in Norman Wells will replace the Joe Greenland Centre in Aklavik. I would just like clarification from the Minister. Is that the case?

Ms. Lee.

Unless someone else has information that can answer that question, either Public Works or whatnot. I believe it is important that if we do lease facilities and we are building new facilities, is the objective of the government to own its facilities outright and get out of these leases and own our own health centres in our communities?

With that, we will take a short break and begin with the Department of Health.

---SHORT RECESS

Back in I believe it was the 12th Assembly, there was a political decision to establish long-term care facilities in communities throughout the Northwest Territories, such as Aklavik, Deline, Fort Resolution, Gameti, and also Fort Simpson and throughout the Northwest Territories. I think one thing this government has to seriously look at is the economics of establishing these types of facilities where there are economic spinoffs for employment, job opportunities and benefits of these care facilities and the opportunities for jobs in our small communities.

Right now we have 40 to 45 percent...

Ms. Meade.

Under the new regulation it stipulates that you have to have, to operate under a new model that you’re using, you have to have 18 beds and it has to be adjacent to a Level B or C health centre. Will the health centre be in the new facility?