Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the Fort Simpson long-term care facility. The department recently completed a review that supports my argument. The review identified the growing
senior population of the Northwest Territories and the need for additional long-term care beds although they insist this need is in the long term. Mr. Speaker, in the long term is not good enough for me.
There are currently 16 residents in the Fort Simpson long-term care facility: one resident from Fort Liard; 12 residents from Fort Simpson; two residents from Jean Marie River; and one resident from Wrigley. As you can see, Mr. Speaker, the facility is being widely used over the entire Nahendeh district. The maximum capacity of the facility is 20 beds, which are shared with elders and physically disabled individuals. That leaves a grand total of four beds to meet the growing seniors population's long-term care needs of the Nahendeh district and, in fact, the entire Deh Cho region.
Mr. Speaker, there are already 16 occupants at the facility and an increasing seniors population in Nahendeh. Where does this government think to put the elderly when they require long-term care? Does this government believe they can ship the elderly all over the Northwest Territories to access other underutilized long-term care facilities? I don't think there is one Member sitting here that would appreciate being shipped to a different community with people you don't know, far away from your family, if you should ever need long-term care. Mr. Speaker, it is the responsibility of this government to support the physical, mental and social well-being of the residents of the Northwest Territories, and this includes the elderly.
Mr. Speaker, I am not asking for a new facility but to expand the existing facility to meet their future needs. Mahsi cho.
---Applause