Debates of October 12, 2005 (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think my questions today are directed to the Minister of Transportation and MACA. It is with regard to what I raised in my Member's statement. I would like to ask the Minister, given the traffic statistics that I know he would have access to for highways south of the lake, given the amount of tourists and traveling public who use our highway systems, given the number of accidents that have needed to be responded to lately, who is responsible for responding to motor vehicle accidents and injuries on the highway system that is served by the Hay River ambulance services? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 92-15(4): Emergency Services On NWT Highways

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now there are only certain communities that have ambulance service. Inuvik is one; the community of Fort Rae, or Behchoko as it is known now; the communities of Fort Simpson and Hay River are the communities that have ambulance service. There are varying degrees on how those communities are funded. Some are funded solely by contract through the Department of Health; others are paid on a fee for service. The responsibility for ambulance services basically falls under the Department of Health. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 92-15(4): Emergency Services On NWT Highways

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can I switch Ministers then in my....Okay. I didn't hear the answer. I'll address my supplementary question to the Minister of Health and Social Services. No, I can't; okay.

I would then like to ask Minister McLeod, Mr. Speaker, who is responsible for providing the equipment that our volunteer fire department uses to go and respond to motor vehicle accidents on the highway? They service a large area. One of the ambulances which is used regularly is 19 years old. Who is responsible? What government department is responsible for replacing that vehicle? I would also like to know, are there any other vehicles? Do we send ENR officers; do we send anybody else out on the highway in 19-year-old vehicles in this government? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 92-15(4): Emergency Services On NWT Highways

Mr. Speaker, there are a number of programs that MACA supports and works with through emergency preparedness to fund some fire rescue vehicles; not necessarily ambulances. Ambulances still fall under, for the most part, municipal governments. This government, through MACA, is responsible for the Fire Prevention Act, which is more an area of inspections, investigations, training. Under our capital programming we do provide fire protection equipment for non-tax-based municipalities. We do not provide it for tax-based municipalities. The responsibility for ambulances still falls under that jurisdiction of the municipal government tax-based communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 92-15(4): Emergency Services On NWT Highways

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can fully understand that. Hay River is a tax-based municipality; however, they are servicing highway infrastructure which this government knows well goes all the way to Fort Smith, the border, Fort Providence, down the corridor. Who is responsible for ensuring that we have adequate vehicles and infrastructure to serve that? That is not within the municipal boundaries. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 92-15(4): Emergency Services On NWT Highways

Mr. Speaker, the area for responding to accidents on the highway is something that falls across a number of jurisdictions. In some cases, the RCMP respond and in some cases some of our highway officials will respond if they are in the area. We have instances where we have our nursing vehicles responding to highway accidents. We have a number of different communities that have ambulances that are responding. We are working with the Department of Health to look at the whole situation to make sure that all lines of communication are clear, that all lines of responsibility are clear. That is something that we are planning to have out by November, the Minister of Health tells me. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 92-15(4): Emergency Services On NWT Highways

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just for clarity, because I am sure this is very important to the traveling public, people that are traveling on our highways would like to know that if they have the misfortune of an accident that somebody is going to come and respond to that, and for the benefit of the volunteers in Hay River, to whom should we appeal for a new ambulance for Hay River? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 92-15(4): Emergency Services On NWT Highways

Mr. Speaker, we have had and are currently having discussions with the community of Hay River on a number of issues about the fire chief's position and the ambulance's equipment requirements. We have worked with the Town of Hay River for a fire rescue vehicle. We have contributed through this government for a highway rescue vehicle and we will continue to do so. I would be pleased to be the contact person, or my department. Thank you.