Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that answer. I guess I'm a little bit confused with the process, because there's a Phase 1 and a Phase 2. From what I've been told they're looking for land and they found the land. Now they're looking at coming up with a diagram or a project for this facility or the creation of it, so I'm trying to understand where that is part of the capital plan process. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The budget for the planning study is in Public Works and Services. We have been working on this project for a number of years. We had obviously hoped to have this moved forward previously but we had more difficulty gaining community acceptance of the parcel of land that would be utilized for the new health centre. It took longer than anticipated, which obviously delayed our ability to do a planning study. You can't do the planning study until you have the land because, if you're talking about design, build, how the facility is going to look, what programs you're going to need, you do have to have a sense of where the location is going to be. Unfortunately, it took longer to get to the planning study than we had hoped. As a result, we will not have the planning study done until the end of this fiscal year. As I've said in the House and I've said in the committee and I've said to the Member, the earliest we could see Fort Simpson getting into the capital plan is 2018-2019. I do have to note that it will have to compete against a large number of other projects, including health centres, school projects, and many, many other capital priorities of this Assembly.

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. I've heard him. Unfortunately, I don't think he's hearing and listening to what the community is saying and the region is saying. This is a regional health centre. It's not a community health centre. This is regional. It's serving six communities and it needs to be built, so I'm hoping that, you know, when we're sitting here talking about a health centre and we're the last one, is it because Stanton Hospital was the one that was being built? I've heard it being said, "No," but this is the message it looks like out there, is that we're the ones that are suffering the consequences. The land was an issue. The land is not an issue anymore, so, Mr. Chair, I'm hoping the Minister understands I've heard him, I've heard him in the House, I've heard him in the communities, but it's important that this health centre, it needs to be built for the residents of the Nahendeh, which is six communities. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Would the Minister like to respond?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I'm completely aware that this is a regional health centre, and I recognize without question the value in moving forward with this facility.

The Member has suggested maybe Stanton bumped this facility. I do have to point out that Stanton facility has been in discussions and negotiations for well over ten years, probably approaching 12 years. The first time that we had a conversation about the Fort Simpson is when we did some initial assessment on the pilings, which proved to be wrong, as a point, which was about 2012, so it's only been in the works for a couple of years. But, as I've said before, you can't move any initiative forward like this until you've actually acquired the spot of land. If you're going to plan, your need to understand the ground you're building on, you need to understand its location so that you can incorporate plumbing and all of these things. It's all part of the planning study.

So, to be clear to the Member, we understand that this is a regional health centre, we understand the importance of this health centre, and we have been moving as quickly as we can, recognizing that you have to, you know, cross a few items on your check list before you can move forward. We've crossed those off, and we are moving forward as quickly as we can.

Unfortunately, as I've said before, the earliest we can expect to see this in the capital plan would be 2018-2019, and it will have to compete against all projects coming forward, and there are a lot of projects. I intend to push to get this onto the capital plan, but I think it's important for people to be aware of the realities. There are a lot of capital projects out there that need to get done.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. Reality is reality, and I understand that. However, it seems that, when we were a hospital, the reality was we'll build a health centre and we're going to run it 24 hours. Now we're just going to rebuild you a new hospital and it isn't going to happen now. It has to compete because of land issues. I understand that, but the biggest problem is for the community. They're looking for a new health centre, the residents. I guess I'm hoping that it will be brought in here.

To move on from this topic is the Sambaa K’e Health Centre. My question in regards to that: who is responsible for this? Is this DPW, of the health centre? Because, when I talk to different people, some people say it's a Health issue, some people say it's a DPW issue, so the community is trying to figure out whom they have to work with to see if they can build it themselves or work on going to a stick-built or stuff like that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, when it comes to health centres, health clinics, health cabins, those types of things, the Department of Health and Social Services is essentially the client. We are identifying the program and the magnitude of programs and services that we need to be available through a facility, and the facility must be designed to meet those needs, but Public Works and Services is the builder.

Also, Public Works and Services, for Health and Social Services as for all other departments, has a responsibility for property management, which means they are managing leases, they're managing rent, they're doing all of those things on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories. So, when it comes to something like a health cottage, cabin, whatever you want to call it, in Sambaa K’e, we have identified a need we are putting into this capital plan so that we can, you know, put some money aside to acquire the facility.

I've been to the community myself. I've had an opportunity to talk to the chief, who has made it very clear that they would like to own and rent a new health cabin exactly like they do today. We're supportive of that. We're open to that as a possibility, but, at the end of the day, it's the procurement department that will be making those decisions based on what is affordable.

I know that staff was supposed to be in Sambaa K’e yesterday. The chief indicated he was not available on short notice and the meeting was cancelled. We have indicated to them that we're happy to go in there whenever the chief can be available to discuss options on how we can move together. That meeting would obviously be with Public Works and Services, the chief, but also staff from Health and Social Services because, at the end of the day, we want to make sure that whatever is built or whatever is acquired meets our clinical needs.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that answer. I'm actually thankful we're clearing this picture up and very satisfied that you're working with the community, and the community seems to be very happy. I know that they want to own it. Does the department -- I guess this would be more for DPW questions, so I'll have to wait for that. Again, I thank the Minister for his answer. I'm done with this page. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Next on my list, I have Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, one question: I would like to get an update on the status of the health centre in Lutselk'e. First, it appears on the 20-year needs assessment for 2017-2018, but I know it's not in the plan. I was wondering if the Minister could advise me when it does appear in the plan?

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. I would just like to remind all the Members to just indicate when you're done speaking with a "thank you" or something like that so the sound techs know when to switch the mics. Minister Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just for clarity, have we finished the administrative and support services section, because all the questions seem to be related to community health programs?

No. We have not called this page yet. Would the Members like to hold their questions for the appropriate section? Mr. Beaulieu.

I'm okay with calling the page first.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. What I will do is call this page, and we can continue on to the next section. Health and Social Services, administrative and support services, infrastructure investments, $84,746,000. Does committee agree?

We will now turn to page 33, with information on page 34. Mr. Beaulieu, please continue.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think the Minister will be prepared to answer the question I just asked. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.