Plans to construct a 48-bed long-term care facility in Hay River were announced on Sept. 20 in the legislative assembly.
Health and Social Services Minister Glen Abernethy funding will be included in the capital estimates for 2018-2019 and will be the first concrete steps toward addressing the long-term care gap in the NWT.
"Funding is included to develop 72 beds in the old Stanton Hospital in Yellowknife; to begin planning for a 48-bed long-term care facility in Hay River to serve the entire South Slave region; and to begin planning for a similar facility in the Beaufort Delta region," the minister said.
The cost estimates still have to be debated and passed by the legislative assembly.
Hay River North MLA R.J. Simpson welcomed the announcement.
Simpson noted it has been known there is a need for more long-term care beds in Hay River, and that was confirmed by a government study in 2015.
"So we knew we needed these beds, but this is the first time that the government has put it in a budget," he said.
Simpson said the facility, which will cost tens of millions of dollars to construct, not only ensures seniors will be able to remain close to their families, but will also create many well-paying permanent jobs.
"It's a really big deal," he said. "I mean in Norman Wells they have an 18-bed facility and there are a dozen jobs there. We're looking at dozens of jobs associated with this."
If the funding is approved by the legislative assembly, Simpson noted the facility would be completed in 2020-2021.
"Everybody recognizes the need for long-term care beds," he said. "The only issue would be that other communities might want these facilities in their own community. The one in Hay River is to service the entire South Slave."
With a completion date of 2020-2021, Simpson is hopeful that some physical work will be done in 2018-2019.
The MLA expects more details of the project will come out in the next couple of weeks.
"We'll discuss it in more depth in committee of the whole, and so we'll get a better idea about scheduling and location and all that stuff," he said. "The thing is it's in the budget now, but it hasn't even gone for tender. There's no design for the facility."
Simpson estimated the new facility will cost tens of millions of dollars to build.
Currently in Hay River, Woodland Manor is a 15-bed long-term care facility, and nine beds are being added near Woodland Manor to replace those in the old H.H. Williams Memorial Hospital.
During his announcement in the legislative assembly on Sept. 20, Abernethy said the Department of Health and Social Services is committed to develop updated capital plans to address the need for long-term care beds, and to find financing options that will allow the government to meet the growing demand for long-term care in the NWT.
The Northwest Territories Long-Term Care Program Review Final Report, completed in late 2015, provided projections for long-term care bed needs over a 20-year period.
The report projected that, by 2026, there would be a need for 258 additional long-term care beds in the NWT.
