Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Nov 26/01) - The families of patients hospitalized in Yellowknife need a better place to stay, according to the Kitikmeot's MLAs.

Qurluqtuq MLA Donald Havioyak and Akulliq's Ovide Alakannuark both say the Kitikmeot Boarding Home is too small, offers no recreation facilities and does not provide services in regional dialects.

Akulliq told the legislature last week that there are "children and newborns in the Kitikmeot Boarding Home" in need of "a comfortable place to stay and they need more space."

Picco replied that the contract to operate the boarding home is about to expire, and that the Department of Health is accepting proposals.

He added that a new regional health-care centre is scheduled to open two years from now in Cambridge Bay.

He did acknowledge, however, that "there have been concerns with overcrowding" at the facility.

Kitikmeot residents who need hospitalization are medevaced to Stanton Regional Hospital in Yellowknife. The Boarding Home provides a place for family members to stay.

Picco said he expects the new health centre will cut down on the number of patients medevaced to Yellowknife and, consequently, the demand on the boarding home.

Havioyak said he just "wants to make sure people have a decent place, with a recreation facility."