Alberta’s new premier has made another promise.

Jim Prentice says the Michener Centre, which cares for adults with developmental disabilities, will not close.

All current residents at the centre in Red Deer will be able to stay there for as long as they want.

The provincial government had planned to close the Michener Centre by December.

It had started transferring residents to community homes.

However, five former residents died after being moved from the Michener to a new care facility.

They were among 46 patients who have already moved into community living.

It will be up to those patients and their families to move them back and no new residents will be accepted.

The NDP is asking for a review of the deaths to ensure the transfers were not a contributing factor.