The territorial government is planning to pour more money into the Thomson Centre, bringing the total to at least $4.5 million.

Health and Social Services Minister Peter Jenkins said Thursday the government has budgeted a 'considerable' amount of money in the upcoming budget for 2004-05 to renovate the Thomson Centre.

'We have a lot of problems over there,' Jenkins said in an interview about the nursing home, which has been closed for more than a year.

Jenkins would not say how much money will be in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year to fix up the building, which is a decade old.

However, sources have told the Star there will likely be more than $2.5 million in the budget for renovations to the facility.

Last fall, Jenkins told the legislature the work on the Thomson Centre has already exceeded $2 million.

This means at least $4 million will be spent on fixing up the structure.

No one has lived in the nursing home since the summer of 2002, when its current residents were moved up to the new Copper Ridge Place.

Initial repairs on the Thomson Centre uncovered a multitude of problems which extended the time needed for the project, as well as the price tag.

The roof on the building needed repairing. As well, mold was found in the walls.

Jenkins said Thursday there were architects and engineers who surveyed the centre to see what else needed to be worked on.

The consultants found deficiencies with the fire alarm, sprinkler system, as well as structural concerns.

The reports will be tabled in the legislature, according to the minister.

The plan had initially been to move the residents of Macaulay Lodge into the Thomson Centre.

However, with the repairs and the residents' unwillingness to move to Copper Ridge Place, they have remained at Macaulay Lodge.

Jenkins announced earlier this week seven beds will be added to the lodge. He said the room is available at the facility.

'It's only running at about 40-per-cent capacity,' the minister said.

The beds will be put in place as soon as they are purchased, he added.

The frames for the beds alone cost $8,000 apiece, according to Jenkins.

The extra $1.8 million recently given to the territory by the federal government will be spent on the new beds for Macaulay Lodge and for the seven new residents.

As well, the extra cash will pay for an additional 12 residents and their beds in the Copper Ridge Place.