Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Many of us agree that all Canadians should have the options of elders living in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. This basic strategy will help reduce the needs for facilities, will lessen the impact on our health system, improve service integration and ultimately enhance our seniors’ quality of life.

In keeping in this context, Our Elders, Our Communities was a report tabled in this House on June 2, 2014, by the Minister of Health and Social Services. Upon reflection, many Members suspected this was a preliminary framework for the government’s Aging in Place action plan, which was based on the recent Continuing Care Review.

Unfortunately, this recently tabled report lists a framework for a number of recommended actions, yet again, what we’ve come to expect from the Department of Health and Social Services, this report, shamefully, does not include any specific targets or timelines.

Well, I’m sure everyone in this room will agree that Aging in Place strategies will no doubt offset some of the demand for long-term care beds in the NWT. We need to strongly ask, what is the government’s plan to ensure enough beds will be available when this territory reaches this critical phase? How critical, you ask. Well, let me tell you. The recent Continuing Care Review predicted that in the next 15 years the NWT will need, at a minimum, an additional 200 long-term care beds and over 60 dementia care beds.

With very little dedicated in this current infrastructure budget and with no targets or timelines for this new Aging in Place strategy, I ask again, to this government, to this Department of Health and to its Minister: Where is the real commitment to our elders? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.