In the Legislative Assembly on August 21st, 2007. See this topic in context.

Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 466

Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I just have a request from the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. This is just with regards to the new senior six-plex that is currently being constructed in Fort Resolution. The seniors' society is grateful for the NWT Housing Corporation moving forward expeditiously on this project and getting it done really quickly in the last few months. It has been moving forward really quickly. This is just a request from some seniors that are looking to move into this new seniors' unit. A lot of these seniors currently live in their own housing units right now, but they require home care services just for the fact that some of them just can't get in and out of their bathtubs, Mr. Speaker, no matter how many rails and hand bars they have. These fairly cheap bathtubs that the Housing Corporation does provide in these government housing units are slippery and small. Seniors have a hard time getting in and out. I just want to request if the Minister can make a recommendation to his department to look at maybe replacing the standard bathtub and tub surround with the handle bars and everything in these units to putting in these walk-in bathtubs that you see on television? One of the seniors did bring this up to me. He said, if I had one of those Ed McMahon bathtubs, I wouldn't need home care services and the government wouldn't have to provide me with money.

---Laughter

I just want to see if the NWT Housing Corporation would consider looking at maybe some cost-benefit analysis of eliminating home care and providing some Ed McMahon bathtubs in all of these units. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 466

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 466

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is obviously watching the same television channel I am. I have seen those premier bathtubs advertised for ever and ever. Ed McMahon calls them premier. They look very comfortable. They look very nice for people to step into. Mr. Speaker, I can say that the Housing Corporation is doing a review of those tubs to see whether or not they are what Ed McMahon says they are.

---Laughter

Are they really that good a product? If they are, then definitely we would consider them. I don't think they will eliminate the need for home care, but they will certainly help some seniors who have difficulty stepping into a regular tub. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 466

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 466

Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am glad that the Housing Corporation is reviewing that. When can we expect this? I don't see any real rocket science in this review, Mr. Speaker. There is a 1-800 number there. It is on the Internet. I have looked at it myself. It is not very expensive. Can the Minister seriously direct his department before they start installing these tub surrounds in those seniors' units? Would they consider those premier bathtubs to be installed in all seniors' units in the NWT? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Item 7: Oral Questions

August 20th, 2007

Page 466

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 466

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some Members are suggesting that the Premier should test one, but I am not interested right now. Mr. Speaker, we are looking at them. I will have to get back to the Member on when we can have a review done, but, all joking aside, seriously, we are looking at them. They look like tubs that would be much more convenient for some seniors. I will let the Member know as soon as I can how soon we can get a definite answer. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 466

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 466

Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Thank you. I just want to make a point that a lot of these seniors that do live in their own houses do require home care visits just for the very fact that they need a bath, Mr. Speaker, nothing more and nothing less. A bathtub like that for a lot of seniors that have mentioned it, say I wouldn't need the home care to come over for three hours a day just to give me a bath because if I had one of these walk through ones, I could do it myself. I just want to make sure that the Housing Corporation really takes a serious look at it. It is not very much more than what the money we would save in home

care visits and the old bathtubs and the health risks associated with the seniors stepping in and out of these small, slippery, cheaper tubs, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Question 170-15(6): Construction Of Seniors' Housing Unit In Fort Resolution
Item 7: Oral Questions

Page 467

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

I didn't hear a question there. Oral questions. The honourable Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.