Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past summer we had a fire up in Tuk, a dump fire. We had volunteers going out there, chemicals burning, breathing apparatuses were insufficient because they were cracking at the seams of the masks. Your bunker gear, it’s just right worn out. I know that he’s saying it’s the responsibility of the community, but I think the fire marshal’s office... It’s been nine months I’ve been asking this to happen. Should it take nine months for a person to jump on a plane and hit the communities and go check? Mr. Speaker, all I’m asking is the government try to commit extra...

Yeah, susceptible -- through these house fires and the highest number of deaths per capita over Canada, will this government work with the local fire marshal’s office and various funding sources to develop a real capacity for each community all over the Northwest Territories, not just Nunakput? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement was on the inadequacy of fire equipment in the communities. Mr. Speaker, considering that the communities have inadequate community infrastructure, they need a complete overhaul. Considering the cost to upgrade them, even a fraction of southern standards is very costly. Will the government commit in replacing all inadequate equipment by the end of this government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’m speaking on the firefighting equipment in the communities. Per capita the Northwest Territories has one of the highest rates of fire-related disasters that occur in small, remote communities. The remote fly-in communities with equipment to fight fires is seriously deficient.

Recently I received a response from Municipal and Community Affairs, the Honourable Robert McLeod, commenting that the territorial fire marshal’s office is planning to conduct a community fire department capacity assessment. Today is October 29th. February 9th was the first time I brought...

Considering our volunteer firefighters, Mr. Speaker, are risking their lives to service and protecting our communities, will this government implement a comprehensive checklist of systems like the Minister is saying such as proper valves are functioning, breathing apparatuses, heated fire truck facilities, proper safety gear and training will be listed on the checklist? I think the best place to get the training would be down here in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Considering all the small, remote communities are most sus, sus --

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank all our hardworking Pages over the past week, especially my two Pages from my hometown of Tuktoyaktuk: Melody Teddy and Theresa Cockney. Thank you for all your hard work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Overall I like what I see for the three communities of Paulatuk, Tuktoyaktuk and Ulukhaktok. But I’d like to ask the Minister what his plans are for Sachs Harbour in regard to getting some new units put into the community.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today the motion that we’re bringing forward for the transition period, the cost of living in the small communities is so high that people are having to make choices again for either buying food for their family or paying bills. And there are such high power rates in the communities, it’s unrealistic to try to pay everything at once.

People have to work. We have to get the people employment and not penalize them. The low employment rates, again, we have to help the people in our communities, not only in our communities but in the Territory. They want to work and not be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

---Unanimous consent granted