Thank you. The process right now is that they are using the waitlist to go through and reach out to each of those individuals that are on the waitlist. For further detail, I know that they are -- I don't know have the level of detail of how many beds currently. I know that the last update I had where they were in the process of filling those beds. But I can -- if the deputy minister has any more information, I can, if I may, pass it to the deputy minister.

Okay, thank you. I'm going to go to the deputy minister.

Okay, thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Range Lake.

Thank you. So when was the facility opened I guess? Like, when -- for these -- because did it just happen and we're bringing these parents on board? My understanding is those -- the long-term care beds have been empty for quite some time so when do we start admitting -- sorry, when were we able to admit long-term care patients? Thank you.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister.

Thank you. I think within this last week is when they started to -- the process of it of admitting patients -- or residents into the long-term care beds. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. I'll go to the Member from Range Lake.

Thank you. So is this -- is this reducing the gridlock at Stanton I guess? Is that going to be a benefit to seeing these patients go? Because I understand many of those patients are in extended care at the Stanton Hospital. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, it may. It may take some of those ALC patients if they are currently been assessed and gone through the territorial application process for the long-term care. As all of the clients that go into long-term care have to have their assessment and go through the process to be added to the waitlist and so therefore they work with those families and those residents that are in beds that have altered level of care. So in parts, it could be. I don't have the detail of if that means all of the ALC patients that are taking beds in Stanton or any of our hospitals. And, again, it's based on their need and so -- I'll leave it at that, Mr. Chair.

Okay, thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Range Lake.

Thank you. Yeah, I would like to see -- I understand this is one of the issues contributing to the gridlock at Stanton. So I would like to see any progress on getting these -- those folks moved out.

What is the average assessment time for someone to be processed -- or to be assessed for a long-term care bed? Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, one of the things that we -- just so that people are aware, like, even the patients that are in the hospital that are at an altered level of care, they may not have as high needs as some people that are living in their homes and so they may not be priority. They also -- long-term care is -- it is the person's choice to go into long-term care and therefore this is one of the things that we are taking back and we are looking at because it's not only gridlock in -- I mean, they're not all altered level care. It's just in Stanton. They're in Hay River. I recently was there. They're in Inuvik. And so they're in all of our acute care facilities. And so this is something that we are looking at on how to work with those families. And I know that's gone back to each authority to work with those families on going through the process. And the process can be -- you know, it has to be assessment by the nurse and then a physician and whatever their needs are, and then their application gets -- and then I think the territorial application committee meets monthly. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. I'll go to the Member from Range Lake.

Okay, thank you. I mean, it does sound more involved. And I wonder if there's a way we can work to expedite things or at least find a place to move, maybe an interstitial thing so it's not quite long-term care. I know we have that, but it's taking place in hospitals right now and that's leading to some of these issues.

Is the -- given that there's still a need for long-term care at these -- the Inuvik, Hay River, Yellowknife, does the department plan to reduce any of the long-term care spaces either through -- that's offered through the authority or that's provided privately or through NGOs? Is there a plan to reduce any of those spaces? Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As of right now, there is no -- the plan right now is the bed projections. And I know that we should have those bed projections soon. And so we'll base -- you know, we move forward as to what our bed projections are and how -- and the changes that we are providing, more home support work in certain communities, which is decreasing the need for those individuals and those people that don't need to go into long-term care as soon -- you know, so it actually helps them stay in their communities longer. So based on the next bed projection, you know, we'll look at what our numbers are, and I'm more than happy to share that information and work with committee on providing more information around how that process works after we get the bed projections. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Okay. Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When does the Minister anticipate the bed projections will be due and -- well, actually shared with Members? That's probably a better timeline. Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I've been told that they'll be ready in April, and then we'll review them. And so once the department has taken a look at what those projections are, then I can let committee know and reach out to committee and be able to provide information on that. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. I'll go to Member from Range Lake.