Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm planning to return to Hay River this weekend, and my constituents told me in no uncertain terms, "If you don't get answers on this matter, don't come back." I will ask for support from the Minister of MACA because I adore the community of Hay River and want to return home tonight. What happened to our shoreline this fall is a very serious matter, and my constituents want answers with solutions and commitments from this government. Can the Minister of MACA tell me what it would take for her department to consider an event as an emergency under the Emergency Management Act? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Under the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, we do administer the Emergency Management Act. We would be working with climate change or natural disasters, fires, erosion, and shore erosion, as well erosion on the river banks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Can the Minister confirm what triggers an event to be deemed as an emergency and to commence action to deal with it? Using the Hay River flooding caused by the high water and wind as an example, what is the process and what action was taken in this instance?
While the Emergency Measures Organization monitors risk situations as they develop and advises communities to increase the risk of period factors, triggers for active responses include the risk factors of community capacity to deal with situations and other associated response issues. The decision of when it is activated would be the response of GNWT assistance. In normal, a discussion would be the with Emergency Management and ENR for wildfires.
Can the Minister confirm what supports those impacted under an event declared as an emergency can expect from this government? Is there financial support for rebuilding and flood-proofing?
Just specifically for Hay River, I am familiar with the Member's questions and with his comments, as well, in that we did deal with a situation where we had high water levels in Hay River. The department did reach out to and did work with the Town of Hay River. As well, we did reach out to Infrastructure to get material to work with the shoreline that was affected and the houses that were affected. Right now, the South Slave District MACA office is working with the Town of Hay River to complete a federal Climate Change and Preparedness North funding program for flooding mitigation.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister confirm that her department will commit to working with the Department of Lands, West Point First Nation, Hay River Metis Government Council, and the Town of Hay River to develop a plan to secure the perimeter of the lake in the town of Hay River, to address this issue in order to avoid future flooding and damage? We need this work done before next spring. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Those conversations are actually happening internally right now. We will be working with the Town of Hay River, and we are in communication with them in regard to the high water levels in Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
