Mr. Speaker, I have often spoken before about the need for 911 phone service in Yellowknife and the rest of the NWT. Members are likely aware that the City of Yellowknife this week received the results of a feasibility study for the implementation of 911 in the city and throughout our Territory. As an aside, it is important to note that the GNWT was a fully participating member of the study’s management committee. Not surprisingly, the recommendation from this report is that 911 service should be established in seven of our 33 communities to start and that it be expanded to the other 26 communities as soon as possible.
Hard on the heels of this report and its recommendation, I have to again state how crucial it is that this government recognize our duty to take part in the establishment of this service. The need for 911 has been talked about for over a decade now. The City of Yellowknife has completed not one but two studies as they try to solve the implementation riddle. The GNWT coroner in 2001 articulated the need for 911 service and attributed a death in 2000 to the lack of that service.
The NWT is one of only two jurisdictions in Canada who lacks this service. It is time for us, the GNWT, to get off the pot, so to speak, and accept that it is our responsibility in a moral and a financial sense to assist in the provision of 911 service.
Just last weekend, Mr. Speaker, I heard the Minister of MACA say that the government will only be involved in the implementation of 911 service if that service is provided to all communities in the NWT at the same time. Is that realistic? Not at all, in my opinion. The Minister cited a very real lack of phone infrastructure in most of our small communities and that one community should not have 911 service where another does not. This attitude will delay implementation of any 911 service by at least five to 10 years as we wait for our phone company to upgrade lines and provide the necessary telephone exchanges. That is unacceptable, Mr. Speaker. We must start now in those communities that already have the appropriate infrastructure and not deny the majority of NWT residents a much needed public safety service.
We are already beginning to think about our 2010-2011 budget and what our strategic investment priorities should be for that budget. A stated goal of this Assembly is sustainable, vibrant, safe communities. The best way for this Assembly to accomplish that goal is to plan for and fund the implementation of 911 service in the identified seven communities.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted.
We must stop making excuses for our lack of commitment to a 911 initiative. Stop dithering about our responsibility and our duty to participate in the provision of 911 service. We have to bite the bullet and do the right thing. The GNWT must partner with the City of Yellowknife and get the implementation of 911 service on its way. I will have questions for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs later on. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
