A swimming pool is needed to serve the four Tłı̨chǫ communities to provide family recreation and employment opportunities, says Monfwi MLA Jane Weyallon Armstrong.
She floated several proposals to two different cabinet ministers today in the NWT Assembly, but their answers left her feeling high and dry.
“I can tell you that families will use a swimming pool to spend quality time with their children,” she said. “A year round swimming pool in Whatì and Behchokǫ̀ would create meaningful employment, new training and career opportunities.
“I want to know what help we can provide our communities to get projects like these underway?”
The MLA noted the old Behchokǫ̀ pool was dismantled due to asbestos, while the pool in Edzo burned down in 2014 and was never replaced.
The only option for Tłı̨chǫ residents on the road system is to drive to Yellowknife – even during winter months — and use the aging Ruth Inch Memorial Pool, until the gleaming new pool opens across the parking lot.
Here is an exchange between the MLA and Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Vince McKay:
Weyallon Armstrong: “When the swimming pool in Edzo burned down, there was insufficient insurance proceeds to rebuild the swimming pool due to newer building standards and the replacement cost, even with limited insurance, was something that community government could not afford. To make this matter worse, the insurance payout was less if you do not rebuild within three years.
“Therefore, I want to ask the Minister, can the Minister commit to trying to find funds for the Behchokǫ̀ swimming pool?”
The Edzo pool ablaze in 2014. (CKLB file/Facebook)
Replied McKay: “The territorial government supplies or funds communities. Through community funding, it’s up to the communities, whether or not they want to utilize some of that funding for things like pools.
“The government doesn’t build pools or operate pools for communities, so at the end of the day, it’s up to the community whether or not they want to use their own revenues, or go out to other sources of funding for building such facilities.”
McKay suggested the community could contact the regional superintendent to see if there could be any help provided in finding alternate funding sources.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Lesa Semmler was on her feet answering a series of questions from several MLAs concerning workplace policies and how they are hurting health-care delivery, especially at the Campus of Care, with the Łıwegǫ̀atì Building and Stanton Territorial Hospital.
Range Lake MLA Kieron Testart stood said, “The whole health care system is falling apart.” He said there are no appointments available, and when you have one, you feel that it’s a rushed appointment and you’re not listened to.
Stanton Territorial Hospital. (CKLB file photo)
He blamed some of the morale issues on a constant churn of locums and agency nurses, which have in many cases interrupted the relationships medical staff had with long-term patients.
“The doctors are burnt out. How are we spending money on all these locums and not on our employees?” he asked.
“Workers are leaving permanent positions to become locums, to do less work for the same pay. And who could blame them? Look at the perks, free housing, free rental cars, no paperwork to complete. Live anywhere in the country and (earn) enough Aeroplan points to get as many as 10 free flights a year.
“The GNWT, for some reason, has optimized the health care system to be utterly dependent on a fly-in culture that is making health care outcomes worse and staff retention next to impossible.”
Minister Semmler said she has been listening to concerns of medical staff, either due to chronic worker shortages, or issues stemming from the consolidation of Primary Care services at the hospital site.
