Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, I guess I'm just -- I'm just pleased to see that, you know, that we're moving along with it and that, you know, we're hoping the completion date is still going to be good. We need those beds as, you know, as Hay River has an aging population. And I just want to make sure I got a bed when it's built. Thank you.

Thank you. Are there any further questions to -- Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, Madam Chair, there is an engagement process that will be undertaken. I don't have the details of it here, but certainly, I -- you know, I would expect that the relevant organizations of the community would be engaged. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Also, I just want to ensure, for the record, that there's some assisted living accommodation within this facility. You know, there's a lot of people that are kind of in between long-term care and having to have that extra care sometimes, and I'd like to see this facility going in that route because that's what the seniors' society would appreciate. So I just want for the record to put that in. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Madam Chair, right now, the project scope does not have an assisted living. It has -- contemplates the higher level of medical requirements that would be needed for individuals, so -- as well as other facilities, kitchen, laundry, and, you know, communication systems. Some of these are included right now in what is being scoped out. But as I said, at the present time it's being scoped for being an assisted living facility at a higher end need. So, you know, again, I would say the first step is to just get the site, do the technical evaluations and do this engagement. So to the extent that there does require something alternative, this would be an opportune time for the community to be involved and to discuss what the needs of the community, in fact, are. Thank you.

Thank you. Did you have any further questions?

(audio) because things change. People change. After the next election, things change. Thank you, Madam Chair. That's all I have, too

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Member for Nunakput.

So anyways, Madam Chair, in regards to the long-term care facility design that they have in Inuvik, again, like I brought up in this House numerous times about my elders in the communities of Ulukhaktok and Paulatuk having to be brought in from the communities when care is too hard to give for families. And, you know, they always say elders aging in place of their home community. I think that there's nothing in the books this go around in regards to a go forward for those two facilities. I mean, I went to the extent of my office, you know, getting designs and that built. But what I'm thinking is there any, like, potential, again, I mean, for the next Assembly or even us to put something in for long-term facilities in the communities for aging in place because the only time that people get to see their parents, their nanik and dadik, is when they come in for medical because of price of tickets are so high. You could go from Yellowknife to Disneyland and back for a one-way ticket from Inuvik to Ulukhaktok. So it's really -- to me, as an Inuvialuk, we take care of our elders and we don't want to send them out into a place where they're not -- we think they're not cared for but they give the best care that they can. They're not eating their native foods. They're not eating -- and they're not with family. And like I said before, it's harsh for me to say this but when the elders go out, they say they go out and they come back in a box. And that's really tough with the -- over the last 12 years, you know, being here, I seen a lot of it. And I hear the families, especially in Ulukhaktok and especially in Paulatuk, Tuk, we have a road, Sachs Harbour same thing. You know, they're caring for families that are -- they should be nursing -- like, should be cared for 24/7. They are cared for 24/7, but, you know, it's just the way they're -- they're not in a proper facility. It's hard for one person when they're -- usually it's one or two people. They got to wash them. They got to do everything for them. Feed them. And they -- they have no problem doing that. But when you send them out for respite care, if the people in the communities, they get tired, 90 percent of them will stay there because they don't want the -- the parent doesn't want to be a burden on the children no more. So it's give and take. But for myself, I think we're in a day and age where we should be able to -- like, I worked with Ministers in regards to looking and teaming up with the communities to get facilities in place but we never -- I never got it pushed over the goal line. But it's something that we should be looking at in the long-term instead of sending them to Inuvik. Because I see 20 beds going into Inuvik. I'm happy for Inuvik because there's a waiting list to get in there. But half that waiting list is people from my riding. We need to be able to have our elders age in place and give them the respect that they deserve. And I really -- I really think that there's -- it's a good news story in regards to it. I know -- and I think there's no way to add. But, you know, I'll support today in the budget today. I'm supporting it. But I want the Cabinet and the Members to know, the ones that come back, they should be -- it's so easy to have elders -- saying elders aging in place but they don't back it up. They have to back up our elders because they were the ones that made the path that we're on today. And I really think that we should be working with the community corporations and IRC to make this happen because we're more than capable of making it happen. It's just a matter of working together because I -- I have family, say, in Ulu. I have an uncle that has dementia. And my auntie and cousins, they watch them. And it's really tough for me when I hear that. And they say they're waiting for a bed in Inuvik. And it all kicks in, you know, for myself that what's going to happen. Proper care. They're gonna feed him, yeah. Proper care for him. But he should be able to do that in his home community of Ulu or in Paulatuk. So the elders that we have and the people that we represent, the people that put us here, the voters, the constituent, we should be looking out for their best interests. And the best interest is getting elders' facilities in the communities so we're able to care for ourself. So working with IRC and our government in the next go around, I think that should be a priority of looking right across the whole territory and seeing if fly-in communities have able to do that and the community corporation, or however they have their business arm set up for the Aboriginal groups, they should be looking at that. I really think something like this would go a long way and have people more happy and happy in regards to when mom and dad are home or your grandparents, you're able to go visit them and you're not visiting them in Inuvik. Sorry, to put it like that. Visiting them in Inuvik in long-term care. And I -- thank long-term care in Inuvik. The staff, thank you so much for what they do because they do care, and they do the best job they could do with what they got. But like I said, this is so easy for long-term care facilities in the bigger communities, in the city here. They're doing an awesome job here in the city because they have funds and it's easier to access. Going into communities, it's, you know, triple the cost. We've seen that over and over. But I have no issue. And now, like I say, I'm supporting this 100 percent I'll support it today. But we need to start thinking outside the box in regards to how to get -- stretch our money and make it go longer, and that's partnering up with the Aboriginal groups across the territory if they want to go that way. And it's their choice. But having for myself, like I said, I've been here since 2007. I have 12 years here in this building. I've been trying to do this to a point where I went out and I sought private business. And now we're close but now it's the end of this Assembly. And now going forward, I have to start all over again. But Members here, I want them to hear it loud and clear. Elders should be -- should be able to age in place with dignity and not away from family and in the room and God forbid they're alone. And, you know, for the people that are going through this right now, my thoughts and prayers are with you. We're working as hard as we can to get it done. But I think that the Minister and the Members here that come back should put emphasis -- real a lot of emphasis in working with -- to make our money go further because we got now very little money going forward anyway. We're in a pretty tight situation for next go around. Going to be a lot of work. So thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. I didn't hear any questions but more of a statement and thank you for that. Are there any further questions or comments on the page 45, 46? Seeing none.

Department of Health and Social Services, health and social programs, infrastructure investments. 15 million -- sorry, this is -- Department of Health and Social Services, long-term care and continuing care services, infrastructure investments, $15,976,000.

Does committee agree? Thank you, Members. Please return now to the department summary found on page 39. Health and social services, 2024-2025 Capital estimates, $56,997,000. Does committee agree?

Does committee agree that consideration of the Department of Health and Social Services is now complete?

Thank you, committee. Committee, we will now consider the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investments. Minister, would you like to switch your witnesses?

Yes, please, Madam Chair.

Sergeant-at-arms, please escort the witness from the Chamber.

Minister, would you please reintroduce your witness for the record.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's Kristal Melanson back again, the director of the Management Board Secretariat.