Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the 2023 evacuation, Avens was forced -- not of their own volition, but they were forced by the government to evacuate 57 vulnerable residents with little to no assistance. Mr. Speaker, they were even in carriage of people from Hay River and Fort Smith who needed that specialized care, and they were all too happy to do so, to support them. Avens was forced to cover a cost of $1.3 million that they had to take a mortgage out.
Now, after some long discussion, the government agreed to carry -- sorry, cover $900,000. They left 30 percent shortfall. That's $400,000. Will the Minister direct her department to work through this process and pay Avens the outstanding debt they have -- they are owed by this government?
Could the Member tell me who the question is going to, please.
Well, Minister of health. Thank you. She can start.
Okay. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what I do know about the -- what happened within that situation, there has been discussions that's gone back and forth. It came back between the disaster funding that it wasn't eligible or applicable, and these were things that didn't meet for reimbursement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, let's start with not typical. Massive fire evacuation. Not typical? Find a way to remove everyone on your own. And furthermore and lastly, Mr. Speaker, the direction of oh, sorry, the plane you've arranged on your own without a plan, without support from us, we're commandeering it. You're right, none of it was typical. And in some ways, Mr. Speaker, not fault, but we have to figure out these things.
So, Mr. Speaker, knowing the situation, would the Minister go back and review the situation to see if they can assess on why this outstanding amount is still there and, furthermore, close that gap because Avens should not be subsidizing the GNWT. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have gone back. I know the Minister of MACA has gone back. My department went back and had further discussions, and the decision that was -- that there were benefits that were given to employees over and above that was what is -- and so that's why they didn't qualify under any of their collective agreement or under the disaster mitigation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Mr. Speaker, that's -- over and above is all fair and game when someone says this is what you're supposed to do and this is how you're supposed to do it. That wasn't the situation. They were left on their own, told to solve this problem, and they did in the best goodwill that they could. They took Yellowknife residents, Hay River residents, and Fort Smith residents.
Mr. Speaker, to the point of the question is Avens was faced with a Judgment of Solomon. Do they take some, which some, or do they take them all? They took them all. So back to this. Mr. Speaker, is the Minister saying some seniors mattered more than others during this evacuation, because Avens had no other option, or is she willing to find a way to support Avens through this terrible financial crisis? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the relationship between the NTHSSA and Avens is between the NTHSSA and Avens, and they were supported. This -- as we've been talking about in this House today, that was something that nobody else has experienced. And I understand where the Member is coming from but, like I said, we looked at all of the, and we worked with the Minister of MACA, and the decision still stands. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.
