Debates of May 27, 2004 (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as per my Member’s statement earlier today, I said I believed that the Department of RWED has misinterpreted their contractual obligation with the City of Yellowknife. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of RWED, when did his department cancel this contract with the City of Yellowknife and did they provide notice by the January 1st deadline as required in the contract? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 143-15(3): Lifeguards At Fred Henne Territorial Park

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have the benefit of the contract in front of me, as it seems Mr. Hawkins does. I appreciate that he will table it later today, so we have it and I can probably give him some more important answers at that point. Just a little background, Mr. Speaker, though, I believe we approached negotiations with the city this year and were looking to sign a contract, recognizing that costs had increased. It has always been on a cost-shared basis in the past. Past expenditures have been about $12,000 for our government. We went into these negotiations and offered $15,000 this year. It’s my understanding that the City of Yellowknife had made a determination that they wanted full cost recovery and no longer wanted to share the cost of these services and indicated the full cost was $21,000. So we were unable to come to an agreement at that point. I don’t believe -- and I will wait to see the contract -- that we had an obligation to inform the city by January 1st. I have to take the Member’s word for it at this point, but I believe that contract has expired, but I will wait to see the contract. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 143-15(3): Lifeguards At Fred Henne Territorial Park

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will first say I noted the willingness to talk to the City of Yellowknife in the Minister’s voice there, so I may forego my other excitable questions by asking for a commitment today that the Minister will open up negotiations with the City of Yellowknife as soon as possible to ensure that we do have life-guarding services in this territorial park. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of RWED, Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 143-15(3): Lifeguards At Fred Henne Territorial Park

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, we didn’t have life-guarding services last year. The contract notwithstanding, the city was unable to find people to do the life-guarding. Obviously it would be nice if there were lifeguards at all our NWT parks that are on water. I believe there are about 15 of them across the territory. I don’t believe there are any lifeguards at any others, unless there are municipalities providing that service. I can indicate to the Member that I have called the mayor’s office to discuss this matter. We have been playing phone tag. I do look forward to sitting down and discussing it with him further, but I hope he will recognize if you take a number like $21,000 and extrapolate that over 15 other parks, we are talking into the $300,000 range. In this instance, it would appear that Yellowknife is in a unique situation over the past two years of having had a contribution where other beaches have not. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 143-15(3): Lifeguards At Fred Henne Territorial Park

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Due to the complexity of the last answer, it forces me to ask again for reassurance on the Minister’s commitment. Due to the fact that we have a historical commitment on an open contract, as I read it, which I will further table today, I would like absolute commitment, so I can feel confident today that this Minister will deal with this historical problem and ensure that we have safety at this territorial park beach. I used to lifeguard at this beach and I am sorry I have to say here today that I can even recall the honourable Minister frolicking on that beach under the safety of a lifeguard. I would not like to put people in jeopardy on that beach. Can I have an absolutely firm commitment from the Minister that he will ensure that they will address this problem immediately with the City of Yellowknife?

Hear, hear!

Minister of RWED, Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 143-15(3): Lifeguards At Fred Henne Territorial Park

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will go the Member one better. I also was a lifeguard at the beach and I hope I wasn’t frolicking on the job.

---Laughter

I recognize that it would be certainly helpful and it is important to make sure that the beach is safe. We are proposing that it be posted as unsupervised. I can’t guarantee that there will be lifeguard services at that beach, no more than the past Minister could for the past season despite the contract in place. The city was unable to provide lifeguards. So it would be misleading for me to stand here and say that I could guarantee that there would be lifeguards at that beach. I think another point to keep in mind, Mr. Speaker, is despite life-guarding in the past, there has always been hours. In most cases during the week, life-guarding services didn’t start until noon. In my past experience on the job, you would show up on a hot, sunny day at noon to find the beach full and kids swimming. There really is an obligation on the part of parents to be vigilant and to make sure that they know where their children are, make sure that their children are supervised while swimming, swimming within the guarded area even when there are lifeguards on duty because as a lifeguard you can’t insist that children stay within the guarded area. I don’t think this government can guarantee the safety in the water of children. I think parents have to work hard to do that and I don’t want to make guarantees that I can’t fulfill. I will indicate, as I have, that I am prepared to sit down and discuss the matter with the mayor and council. We would like to come to some sort of resolution. I think that’s important, but I don‘t want to make guarantees I can’t deliver on. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 143-15(3): Lifeguards At Fred Henne Territorial Park

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am only concerned about the obligation of safety, whereas the territorial government may see no smoking as a personal obligation, yet the territorial government engages in non-smoking policies and safety policies. Last year was an anomaly and we pointed out the uniqueness of it, whereas qualified lifeguards were not available. This year they are available, so I would like to think that the territorial government is trying to ensure the lifeguards are there. I am asking for the Minister to ensure that he will be there contractually to help support through financial means, so that this service can continue as it historically has. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 143-15(3): Lifeguards At Fred Henne Territorial Park

Mr. Speaker, again, I can’t provide that assurance. In the past it has been a $12,000 contribution, it has been cost shared, a shared responsibility with the city. The proposal this year from our government, recognizing that costs have indeed gone up, was to increase that to $15,000, recognizing that it should still be on a cost-shared basis. The city countered with full cost recovery only, turned down the $15,000 offer, wanted the $21,000 in full cost recoveries. So I can’t guarantee that we’ll come to a contractual arrangement, but I will guarantee that I will sit down and speak with the mayor on the matter. Thank you.