Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on an issue of public safety and security that affects residents in the Northwest Territories: the provision of a 911 emergency telephone service for northern communities. Just over a month ago, Yellowknife lost a 35yearold business in the city to a massive fire. 911 was called, but the call didn't reach emergency responders. Instead, the fire hall had to be alerted by someone driving there. The business was lost, along with the associated jobs and economic activity. Thankfully, it was no worse than that. The City of Yellowknife has long been a supporter of 911. Other NWT municipalities are on board too. In the previous assembly, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs studied the viability of a 911 service and concluded that we are very well positioned to implement it.
So why haven't we moved ahead? We invite visitors to join us in the North through our tourism promotion, our film and television industry, our festivals, fishing camps, canoe trips and hospitality industry. At the same time, we have recently experienced severe fire seasons. We can be grateful for a cool and quiet month of May, but we have the lesson of Fort McMurray to know how important it is to be prepared for emergencies and mindful of public safety. A basic 911 service has been budgeted to cost just over half a million dollars to establish, and only $266,000 a year to operate. Last year, MACA noted that the research is complete for a 911 system. The Standing Committee on Government Operations has recommended that since the value of lifesaving potential of a 911 system far outweighs the small cost, it urged the department to move forward with 911. Now is the time for concrete steps to put this important public safety system into place. Mr. Speaker, I'll have questions for the Minister of MACA at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members’ statements. Member for Sahtu.
