The new seniorsSA国际影视传媒� facility in Fort Good Hope should be ready for occupancy this March, officials saySA国际影视传媒攎ore than a year after it was officially opened.

Minister Paulie Chinna confirmed at the Nov. 2 Assembly sitting that the electrical assessment for the building was being finalized, and a structural assessment was underway.

Yellowknife North MLA Rylund Johnson asked Chinna why the facility was only ready for occupancy thirteen months after it had been officially opened in February 2021.

SA国际影视传媒淐an someone just explain to me what is going on here?SA国际影视传媒� he asked.

Chinna explained that after the official opening, the office of the fire marshall discovered that further work was needed to bring the buildingSA国际影视传媒檚 fire safety up to code, in particular the fire separation between units. SA国际影视传媒淲e want these buildings to be designed to protect and give adequate time for people to get out of their units should a fire occur in one of the other units,SA国际影视传媒� said Chinna.

She said the Department agreed with the fire marshallSA国际影视传媒檚 assessment and would continue to work closely with the marshall to ensure best practices.

Johnson asked what the Housing Corporation would do to make sure buildings werenSA国际影视传媒檛 opened before being up to code in the future.

SA国际影视传媒淭his has happened to the GNWT multiple times, where weSA国际影视传媒檝e opened buildings, and then thereSA国际影视传媒檚 been, in this case, a one-year delay before the buildingSA国际影视传媒檚 actually opened,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Chinna responded, saying only that the corporation was working closely with regulatory authorities and would work with staff and contractors to ensure better awareness of building standards.

Member Kevin OSA国际影视传媒橰eilly suggested that the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 lack of a building standards act might have been to blame for the delay. The NWT is the only jurisdiction in Canada without such an act.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think this is whatSA国际影视传媒檚 at the root of the problem, is the lack of a building standards act here,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

In response, Minister for Municipal and Community Affairs Shane Thompson said his department was backlogged with other pieces of legislation, but would address it if possible.