The committee would like to commend the department for their success in repatriating NWT residents from southern institutions. Unfortunately, this success has eliminated capacity in NWT long-term care facilities and limited the ability to repatriate residents from southern institutions.

Committee members believe this need, coupled with the anticipated doubling of the senior population in the next 20 years, forces the department to analyze projected need and develop long-term care facility needs.

When the department does its analysis, the committee requests the department to also consider community wishes in developing its plan. Residents in communities without long-term care facilities are required to place their loved ones in communities within the administrative district (board) they belong to. In the case of Fort Providence, this means Fort Simpson. This makes it very inconvenient for residents to visit their loved ones because the majority of people go to Hay River for shopping and their other health care needs. Committee members believe that compassion and logic should be used in establishing which territorial facility is most appropriate.

Committee members also realize that community wishes cannot always be accommodated because of the non-availability at the preferred facility. However, an effort should be made to accommodate the family.

Mr. Chairman, with your consent, I would like to ask that the balance of the report be read by the Member for Deh Cho. Thank you.