Debates of May 11, 2007 (day 5)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement today, I talked about the water quality in Tuktoyaktuk about an elder’s concern about the chemicals, especially chlorine and fluoride, added into the water treatment plant. I have a question for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, the Honourable Michael McLeod. What sort of training does the hamlet maintenance staff have in regard to the water treatment plants? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 65-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Water Quality

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the responsibility for drinking water falls across a number of different government departments. ENR, or Environment and Natural Resources, is responsible for the location and the source of drinking water and ensuring the water is clean. Public Works has the responsibility of ensuring the water plants are run properly and infrastructure is in place. The Department of Health is responsible for testing the water and MACA plays a role also working with the communities to ensure all this works in a good, safe fashion. One of the things we do is the training and certification for the water plant operators.

We have a partnership with a company called Circuit Rider that goes into the communities and provides training to the water plant operators. Also, we have some programs within the School of Community Government that provides certification of water plant operators, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 65-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Water Quality

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is this intensive training in regard to the certification they are receiving? How long does it take? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 65-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Water Quality

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the certification I think really depends on the education level or the skill level of some of our water plant operators. In some cases, it takes some time. We have to do a number of different types of programming including some hands-on training where we have either a Public Works officer or a Municipal and Community Affairs officer work right in the facility with them to provide hands-on training. But in some cases, it is a very short number of courses through the School of Community Government that would certify them. Mr. Speaker, it really depends on the level that the individual is at in the community and the level of education is certainly a factor.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 65-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Water Quality

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. After the water is treated, how often do they check the levels of chemicals that they put into the water treatment plant? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 65-15(6): Tuktoyaktuk Water Quality

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a multi-barrier approach to treatment of water. It is tested in a number of different ways. Our water plant operators are expected to be in the facility on a daily basis. The Health people test water I think on a monthly basis. The source of the water is also tested by ENR on an annual basis. So there are a number of different tests that happen throughout. There are also tests that happen within some of the households to ensure that the water that is in the tanks in some cases is safe. So there are a number of different schedules that are out there. At the actual facilities, it is something that happens on a daily basis. Thank you.