Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my constituents in Fort Resolution have now been controlled by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs for a full year. The legislation stipulates that iin these circumstances, the senior administrative officer must meet with the public to ensure proper transparency and accountability is upheld. It is essential for residents to observe and participate in their public institution. They must also feel confident in their local government in the face of emergency and uncertainty as well.
I am glad to have recently brought several of my Cabinet colleagues to see Fort Resolution's problems firsthand. It is clear, though, that more work must be done by the government in response to the threats of the wildfire.
Fort Resolution is increasingly concerned with the lack of information sharing with the department officials and the administrator appointed by them regarding their emergency plan. It is legislated that all communities must create and retain and execute their emergency plan but without a local government in Fort Resolution, the task of providing such plans therefore falls on the Minister.
The territorial government surely has to be able to establish and carry out a comprehensive plan for Fort Resolution yet the community remains uncertain about the details of any emergency plan, especially in regards to wildfire threats. Over the last year, there has been ineffectively no functional fire department in the community, no professional volunteers, or fire brigade. They still don't know when they'll see or even get a functional fire truck that's properly maintained, a water truck, and a backup water truck.
Mr. Speaker, Fort Resolution is totally in the dark about our government's capability to keep themselves safe in a wildfire emergency, especially in the event of an evacuation. The threat of wildfires grows stronger by the season, starting earlier each year. Due to the inaccuracy of a community administrator, there is potential that the Minister may be putting the safety of the community at risk. I hope that our people will get some clarity in the coming days on this matter at this time.
Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.
