Discussions continue among stakeholders about how to re-purpose the Manitoba Development Centre in Portage la Prairie.

The MDC Working Group Committee was formed a year ago to explore ways to shift operations at MDC, due to a declining number of admissions at the facility. MDC is one of Portage and area's largest employers with about 500 staff, and an annual economic impact of about $70-million.

Working Group Committee chair Shelton Hiltz says they've invited CEOs of various organizations to take a look at the facility. Agassiz Youth Centre, Child and Family Services, Addictions Foundation of Manitoba and the Regional Health Authority have all toured the space, and Hiltz says there's been some discussions.

"We're trying to see if other organizations have some uses for the kinds of facilities and staff already in place," Hiltz says.

One idea for a path forward is to convert MDC to a facility to house personal care home beds, Hiltz says, as there is a shortage in not only Portage la Prairie, but the province.

"The government has committed to build 1,200 personal care home beds," Hiltz says. "One of the ideas would be to take a look at MDC and see if it can be converted to personal care home beds."

"The buildings are there, they're in good shape, there are professional staff there," continues Hiltz. "A lot of the components that are necessary are already in place."

Mayor Irvine Ferris says that type of transition is a real possibility.

"We've been looking at what services are needed for areas that are growing," the Portage la Prairie Mayor says. "And that's an area of growth in the province and right across the country."

Ferris describes the situation with declining admissions at MDC as "urgent, but not critical." He says it's not in danger of closing in the foreseeable future, but it's inevitable a shift must occur to protect the jobs and economic impact. There's no timeline as to how long the entire process will take.

"We're dealing with a lot of agencies, a lot of departments in government," Ferris explains. "This will take a bit of time, but there is some progress being made and certainly some interest in what's being offered at MDC."