Thank you, Madam Speaker. My first set of questions a few weeks ago, when we started this session, were on the Ingraham Trail fire services, and my last questions will be on the Ingraham Trail fire services. The Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh raised the idea of Dettah providing fire services to the Ingraham Trail. My question for the Minister of MACA is: is that a feasible option, and have we done any work on that? Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Thank you, Member. Minister of MACA.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. The question was only asked last week. My department has been in communication with YKDFN and with Dettah, as well. As soon as we have more of a report to provide, I will keep the Member informed. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
On my first set of questions, the Minister said there was presently a working group and that we were dealing with the City of Yellowknife. My question is: has an offer been made to the City of Yellowknife of what they would need to continue fire services for the Ingraham Trail?
The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and the City of Yellowknife are working jointly on this initiative, as well. We need to get out; we need to consult; we need to look at stakeholders; and we need to see what it is that we are able to provide at Ingraham Trail. We still need to have the conversation with the City of Yellowknife. They are strategizing on their end, as well. Nothing has changed. Once we meet with the City of Yellowknife, I will provide an update to the Member. As I said, we have just started working with them within the last week.
I want to press the urgency of this issue. If, on April 1st, fire services run out, first, it's people lose fire services to their homes, which is an emergency. However, also, a number of my constituents' insurance bills will simply double due to us not being able to sort out an issue here. There is a direct cost to my constituents that I would like to avoid. When can we expect the department to reach out to those residents and communicate with them?
I don't want to sound as if I am avoiding the question, but there is a lot of discussion that has to take place before MACA comes in and starts to make the decision. We need to be working with the City of Yellowknife respectfully and respectfully with the Indigenous groups, as well, and also speaking with the residents of Ingraham Trail and what it is that they are looking at; the fire services, as well; speaking with Dettah, as well. There are a lot of parties that are at the table. I do understand the urgency for April 1st coming up. It's very close. I will keep the Member informed because I just, right now, do not have an update, but we are working in conjunction with the working group.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am a little frustrated. The way I see this, there are three options. One, we contract with Dettah, and we make sure that a fire hall that has struggled to get insurance and get a full crew of volunteers happens by April 1st; two, we contract with the City of Yellowknife, who has been extremely resistant to providing services; or, three, in the next few months, we construct a fire hall on the Ingraham Trail, which also seems extremely impossible. My question for the Minister is: what is the plan to make sure fire services continue on the Ingraham Trail? Thank you, Madam Speaker.
I would have to follow up with the Member, but we cannot make decisions because we are working with the Indigenous groups and with the City of Yellowknife. Considering the number of people who are going to be involved, strategically looking at how are we going to provide fire services in Ingraham Trail, we are working with this, and we do have a strategy right now. I will provide the Member with an update. It has not been finalized. We are working with the City of Yellowknife in respect to them, too, and YKDFN. I need to be very clear and strategic when I prepare the response. I need to hear from the affected parties first. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.
