Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the provisions of the health transfer agreement and deal with the replacement of the Inuvik Regional Hospital and major renovations to the Baffin Regional Hospital. The
transfer agreement specifies that the Inuvik Regional Hospital will be replaced with a facility which will not result in a decrease in the level of service provided at the time of the transfer. The construction of this hospital is to be cost-shared between the federal government and the Government of the Northwest Territories. Although the agreement also specifies that the Government of the Northwest Territories is not to ask Canada for capital assistance in replacing this facility until 1996-97, the federal government has been contributing over $1 million annually towards their share of the cost for replacement of the Inuvik Regional Hospital and major renovations to the Baffin Regional Hospital, so far that we have an accumulated contribution of over $4 million since the health transfer in 1988.
During the debate on the health transfer, the former Minister and the former deputy minister told the House that a facility would take two years to plan and three years to construct. It was anticipated that a new facility would be open in 10 years, around 1998-99. Mr. Speaker, given this time frame, programming and planning for this facility should begin in 1993-94, using the capital funding already received from the federal government, and construction should begin in 1996-97. This is the first year we can go to the federal government for capital assistance, and hope the new facility will open in 1998-99 as was committed.
Mr. Speaker, I raise this important issue at this particular time because a so-called health facilities review is currently being undertaken by the Department of Health. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to continue my statement.