Robert C. McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’d like to see all of our communities have access to cellular service. I think it’s improved quite a bit in the last couple of years. As far as what we’re trying to do, we would obviously work closely with those that are providing the service, have them inform us as to what their future plans are. Thank you.

Given the seriousness of the situation and increased fire hazard around Christmas, we worked with the community government to validating a suitable service level by taking a hands-on approach to develop guiding policies, procedures and training plans. I would also like to note and highlight the tremendous effort of the community fire staff and Hay River in their help and training volunteers from Fort Resolution…I almost said Revolution. Their contribution at this time was greatly appreciated and they did a fantastic job. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, three years ago the 17th Legislative Assembly made it a priority to establish sustainable, vibrant, safe communities. Today I want to speak about some of the work being done by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to help reach that goal by strengthening community emergency preparedness and fire protection.

In the past 12 months, NWT communities have experienced some extreme events that have tested their ability to respond to natural disasters and community fire incidents. These events can occur at any time and in any place, with or without warning. Effective response...

The office of the fire marshal works extensively with community governments to complete fire department assessments and development plans. Information contained in these assessments provided MACA with a good idea of broad gaps and deficiencies that exist within NWT’s community fire protection system. This helped our key stakeholders, including the NWT Fire Chief’s Association, to develop the Community Fire Protection Plan that contains a number of priority initiatives aimed at improving the system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t believe small communities play politics with emergency services because you’re playing politics with the safety and well-being of your residents. The issue was brought to MACA’s attention in late 2013 when WSCC advised us of a non-compliance issue involving the community. In response to this, we work with the community officials to help them develop policies and procedures, by providing guidance, advice and templates. At this time we didn’t assume a hands-on approach in preparing the necessary instrument and tools.

It is a problem that we are taking steps to deal with. Every year I have the privilege of attending the NWT Fire Chief’s Association’s annual general meeting. Each year, obviously, the participants showed great interest in this topic. Make no mistake about it, community fire protection in the Northwest Territories is challenging and we are taking steps to deal with that. The communities are upgrading their training and we are working with them to upgrade their training. They also have in their ability, through their CPI funding and gas tax, to purchase firefighting equipment and get the proper...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of our sporting partners, Sport North, has put a business plan together for a proposed centre of sports excellence. We’re just in the process of reviewing that plan and we’ll try to work with our partners on the way forward.

Mr. Speaker, the Member raises a very good point. A lot of the teachers that have gone through the communities in years past have contributed a lot to sporting development in the communities. I think we see it in the different communities around. One community might be good in basketball because they have a basketball coach there. So, they’ve contributed a lot.

We recently had a sport forum with many of our sporting partners, and we plan on having another gathering of our sporting partners. There are always ways through them that all those who are serving the communities can contribute to the...

This government contributes a lot to the health and well-being of our young people across the Northwest Territories. I think we have upwards of $3.6 million that we provide to many programs that affect the communities. Again, I haven’t had an opportunity to review the business plan yet. I’m just in that process right now. Once we review that and see if there’s a way moving forward, it will obviously take into account a lot of things if they do have a centre of excellence for sport development, nutrition and health and well-being. But first and foremost, our goal as a government is to...

The Member is correct; it was a five-year interim withdrawal to begin with. It’s been extended three times for one year. It expires in November of this year.

Again, until there’s a land claim settlement we’ll continue to keep extending it. As far as the one-year term or multi-year term, I will confirm that and have that discussion with the Member as well.

As I said before, we are engaging with the city. We’re actually engaging with the YKDFN, too, to see how we can move some of these issues forward. Thank you.