Site change for proposed health centre
GNWT reconsiders location after community expresses concern
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, June 8, 2015
DENINU KU'E/FORT RESOLUTION
The leadership in Fort Resolution has managed to convince the GNWT to change the proposed location of a new health centre in the community.
The government's new plan is to build it on the leadership's preferred site, which is now occupied by an unused single's apartment building known locally as the eight-plex.
The Department of Public Works and Services has issued a new request for proposals (RFP) for the design and construction of the centre, which will replace a 45-year-old building.
"The RFP has changed consistent with the requests of the community for a new location," said Perry Heath, director of infrastructure planning with the Department of Health and Social Services.
The GNWT's previous approved site for the new health centre was on four lots on the edge of the community. The leadership objected to that site as not being centrally located, especially for elders, and on land that once was a swamp. The new RFP was issued on May 22 and has a closing date of June 23.
A previous request for proposals, which had a closing date of Feb. 26, was canceled after the community concerns arose. The community leaders - Mayor Garry Bailey with the Hamlet of Fort Resolution, Fort Resolution Metis Council president Arthur Beck and Chief Louis Balsillie of Deninu Ku'e First Nation (DKFN) - jointly wrote the minister of Health and Social Services in mid-January to express their concerns, and to suggest the eight-plex site in the central part of the community.
Bailey is pleased the territorial government has responded to those concerns.
"I think it's good that they've changed their mind," he said. "Obviously, they're listening to the community, and the community at large wanted it where it's going to be located now."
In a Feb. 10 letter to the community leadership, Health and Social Services Minister Glen Abernethy committed to reconsidering the issue.
Abernethy said at the time that the department had previously investigated the eight-plex site and determined it would not have sufficient size to accommodate the new health and social services centre. However, in their Jan. 14 letter, the community leaders told the minister that DKFN, which owns two small buildings beside the eight-plex, would be willing to relocate the structures to create adequate space for the new centre and its parking.
The NWT Housing Corporation operated the eight-plex of single apartments and currently maintains the building.
Heath said the target for a new health centre to be built remains 2017, although that won't be confirmed until the responses to the RFP are received and a preferred proposal has been chosen.
