Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to take the opportunity to speak about the Yellowknife Company of the Royal Edmonton Regiment. This is a reserve unit whose creation was announced in June 2008 and whose first member began full-time work in June 2009. They had their headquarters grand opening at the Diamond Plaza on January 10, 2011.
The Yellowknife Company is the first Army Reserve Company to be based in the Northwest Territories and the only active reserve unit north of 60. It’s part of the federal government’s initiatives to increase the defence presence in the North and it’s meant to complement the work of the Canadian Rangers and regular Forces stationed here in the North.
Distinct from Canadian Rangers, these reservists, both part time and full time, will receive combat training and can volunteer for deployment overseas with regular Canadian Forces units. This company has already participated in training programs over the past summer, called Operation Sovereign Grizzly, that involved some 160 soldiers gaining training in subarctic conditions. Part of the activities conducted during these exercises included the refurbishment of a boardwalk along the trail system at Frame Lake.
Currently this company has 26 individuals who are members and they anticipate enrolling as many as 15 more people by this summer. The goal is to recruit a full strength of 100 members by 2019.
Although Rangers have been in the Northwest Territories for years now, reserves are new. In every other jurisdiction in Canada reservists are present, including Yukon and Nunavut. Their local Employment Standards Act has provisions that support and protect reservists and their employers. Until recently, these clauses were not necessary in the Northwest Territories. Now they are. Without these important amendments to the Employment Standards Act, some individuals may not pursue an interest in becoming reservists and some employers may be reluctant to support reservists here in the Northwest Territories.
Later this afternoon I’ll be seeking the Minister’s commitment to amend our Employment Standards Act so that it provides the protection included for reservists and their employers in other jurisdictions such as the Yukon. I’ll also be tabling a copy of the Yukon’s amendments for the department’s consideration. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
