Madam Speaker, thank you. My other question this afternoon is for Mr. Bell, the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. It regards kind of longstanding difficulty that we have had in working out an arrangement with the City of Yellowknife to assist in the provision of lifeguard services at the Long Lake beach. Madam Speaker, summer is nicely on its way, at least here in this part of the territory. I am wondering if the Minister could advise on whether our negotiations or discussions with the city have been successful and will we see lifeguards at the Long Lake beach this summer? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Minister Bell.

Return To Question 88-15(4): Provision Of Lifeguard Services At Long Lake Beach

Brendan Bell

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I don't believe the city intends to provide life guarding services this summer at the beach. It's been a couple of seasons now without lifeguards at the beach. I think the Member knows the history. We provided, in past, a contribution that the city turned around and used to provide life guarding services. Obviously we are not in that business and don't do that, but we had provided a contribution in the past. The city felt that it wasn’t significant enough. We entered into a negotiation which eventually failed. The city left that negotiation feeling that if we couldn’t pay for the entire cost of the provision of the service, that they weren’t going to provide it. I believe that’s where it stands.

I have moved and asked the department to enter into negotiations with the city and discussions around the entire park. I think the park might be better run by the city, who could then provide the level of service and the type of service that they want. Those negotiations really have not moved to the point that I would like to see them. I am anticipating meeting with the mayor and council here going forward to try to have some political discussion around whether or not that is a direction they would like to move in. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Bell. The time for question period has lapsed, however, I will allow Mr. Braden to ask a supplementary question. Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 88-15(4): Provision Of Lifeguard Services At Long Lake Beach

Bill Braden

Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Minister is right; we are going into potentially our third year where a major piece of the city’s summer recreational options, especially for families and kids, is not going to be safe. I think it’s truly a shame that between our two governments we can’t arrive at a way to do that. The eventual devolving the ownership and responsibility of the park to the city is a good one, but in the meantime why isn’t it that at least our government can’t take this really important service on? We already look after the rest of the park. Why can’t we roll this into the same service, make sure it’s provided, make sure it is safe, enjoyable and accessible this summer? This is the third year going on, why can’t we do this?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Minister Bell.

Further Return To Question 88-15(4): Provision Of Lifeguard Services At Long Lake Beach

Brendan Bell

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We are not insured to provide the service. The city already does provide it at the pool. I would also add that we don’t do it anywhere else in the territory. There are other beaches you can make exactly the same case for, I believe, such as the one in Hay River, which is inside municipal boundaries.

In terms of the safety issue, it’s a safety issue before the hours that a beach would be supervised, say at 10:00, and after the hours the beach would be supervised, say 6:00 p.m., if the city, for instance, chose to provide life guarding services from 10:00 until 6:00 everyday. So it is a very real safety issue. Prior and post those hours, parents have to be very careful and shouldn’t leave their children unattended at the beach. So there are a number of safety issues that can’t entirely be resolved by having lifeguards. We do, I believe, know that the city posts the beach as unsupervised and we advise parents to make sure they are watching their kids at all times when they are on the beach. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 88-15(4): Provision Of Lifeguard Services At Long Lake Beach

Bill Braden

Great Slave

Madam Speaker, those are very valid aspects of providing the service, insurance, jurisdiction and all that other kind of thing. But to the kid out there on the street or the mom and dad who are looking for safe options for their child, it comes across as quite bureaucratic and really the kind of excuses we, unfortunately, can use as a dodge. I don’t think they are acceptable. I would like to ask the Minister will he reconsider all of these kinds of things and look at them in the sense of providing a public service that nobody else can? This is our jurisdiction. Will we put a lifeguard at the beach this summer? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Minister Bell.

Further Return To Question 88-15(4): Provision Of Lifeguard Services At Long Lake Beach

Brendan Bell

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The answer is no. We don’t do it anywhere else in the territory. We aren’t going to start doing it at this beach. We aren’t going to go out and decide we are in the life guarding business. It isn’t our jurisdiction. The city can do it if they choose. I believe the cost is $20,000. They have lifeguards available that they use at the pool. They are set up to be able to do this. They are insured to be able to do this. Obviously it would cost them some money and I respect their decision to not staff lifeguards at the beach because that would mean having to reduce services elsewhere, but that is a decision that they have made and not a decision that this government has made.

Thank you, Minister Bell. Oral questions are now over. Mr. McLeod.

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery.