Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr. Lance Crook. He's a local Hay River boy who just last week completed his medical residency and is now officially an attending physician. I'm not surprised by Lance's success. He's always been a hard worker. Before beginning on his career path, he was already an accomplished guitarist and a journeyman tradesperson. Dr. Crook attended the University of Saskatchewan, where he received a Bachelor of Science honours degree in biochemistry. He went on to complete the Island Medical Program in Victoria and received his medical degree from UBC, which is one of the top-ranked medical schools in the country. We've all heard stories about gruelling residencies are, but Dr. Crook somehow managed to get through all while helping his wife raise their four young children. I'm excited to say that Lance is now moving back to Hay River to practice medicine. I want to congratulate Lance and I want to congratulate his mother who I know is very proud of him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My grandma has lived in that building for 12 years, and so while it is an institutional setting, it is still a home and she looks at it as a home, so I know people do. It is their home. I would ask that the Minister commit to sharing that assessment with myself and the other Member for Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to ask: Will the Minister commit to doing that review with Public Works and Services so we can use this facility?

I could probably live with that 50-bed expansion that the Minister mentioned. ---Laughter

I understand the old hospital is not meeting, maybe, today's standards. I know there's an older part of it and there's a newer part of it, and the older part is the issue. That’s the reason, I believe, that we needed to move out. The new part appears to be structurally sound. I know there needs to be some renovation done to it. Will the government look at renovating that building so the newer part of the building can extend its life?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In Hay River right now, we're in the process of moving the medical clinic to the new health centre, and it's my understanding that, I imagine, in the next year or two the rest of the hospital will move as well. The Minister of Health and Social Services tabled the Long-Term Care Program Review in this House on Monday and it discusses our lack of long-term care beds. Currently we're slated to get 10 new beds built onto the Woodland Manor, and all that does is take the current long-term beds in the current hospital and move them to the Manor. My question to the Minister is: Since we have this shortage of beds and since the all-in capital investment of new long-term care beds is between $800,000 and $1.2 million, and since the cost of operating a current bed is $136,000 a year, why aren’t we continuing to use the current long-term care beds in addition to the 10 beds that we'll be getting? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This weekend is going to be a busy one in Hay River, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to let everyone know about some of the exciting events that are going to be happening in our region. This year will be the 34th annual Kamba Carnival held just across the river at the K'atl'odeeche First Nation. It's an annual celebration of spring and a tradition in the region, attracting people from all over the North. It features snowshoe races, talent shows, dog sledding, fish-eating competitions, traditional games, and more. There's something for everyone in the family to enjoy, so it's always a good time, plus there's cash prizes for a lot of the events, so it will be definitely worth your while to check out. Another great event that has become an annual tradition is the Polar Pond Hockey Tournament. This year, a great group of volunteers turned the river at the Fisherman's Wharf into seven three quarter-sized hockey rinks. There will be about 30 teams participating in three different divisions: 18-plus, old-timers, and the women's division, also known as the competitive division. Teams play four on four with no refs or goalies and players are guided by sportsmanship and fair play. There is great hockey, food, drinks, and a live band, so it's a great time and it's really like nothing else around. The other big event this weekend is Weekend Warriors put on by Race Hay River. This is a two-weekend racing circuit that takes place on the Hay River by the ice crossing. Racers compete in snowmobile, cross-country, and drag races, then ATV and dirt bike races. There's usually around 150 entries and some nice cash prizes, so it attracts a lot of good talent and makes for a lot of exciting races. There's lots going on in and around Hay River this weekend, but there's plenty of time to check out all of the events. The weather is going to be great, so I encourage everyone to come down to Hay River and take in all the festivities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 2-18(2), Interim Estimates, 2016-2017, and would like to report progress with one motion adopted and that consideration of Tabled Document 2-18(2) is concluded and that the House concur in those estimates and that an appropriation bill to be based thereon be introduced without delay. I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This will be my final question. I just want to know, considering that is a pretty hefty price tag, has the government and will the government approach the federal government to seek funds to help with this expansion?

I was wondering if the Minister had actual numbers as to the cost of upgrading the Taltson facility.