Debates of June 12, 2024 (day 26)

Date
June
12
2024
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
26
Speaker
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay Macdonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Yakeleya
Topics
Statements

Question 288-20(1): Ground Search and Rescue Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Premier commit to releasing the GNWT Justice Search and Rescue System Review MMP 2022 Final Report to the public as soon as possible and table it in this Assembly when the next opportunity arises? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Premier commit to supporting programming such as Adventure Smart, which teaches Northerners to be prepared and self-sufficient when they journey onto the land or water and partner with NWT businesses, as well as federal, territorial, and municipal departments that operate in the territory's natural environment? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There's a lot unpack there. I'd probably need to think about it a bit more, understand what the programs the Member's speaking of are, and then we can go from there. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Premier. Will the Premier allocate funding directly to the training of professional ground search and rescue volunteers with accountability built in to ensure they're being trained to current national standards as recommended by the report? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There's plenty of things I would like to do. This is one area where I would like to see something happen as well. What that is, I'm not quite sure yet. This does take resources. But that being said, I've already had discussions with the Minister of MACA on potential future steps on what we can do. Again, that being said I can't make any promises. We are going through the budget process right now. We are really looking to get our financial house in order so that we can pursue activities like this, which falls in line with our public safety mandate. But that's work that still needs to be done. Thank bou, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this report was commissioned by the GNWT and was completed and hasn't been implemented. So can the Premier commit to an implementation schedule that will be costed and released publicly so we can know when these necessary lifesaving changes to search and rescue will take effect? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like every other initiative that we would like to bring forward, it has to compete with all of the other initiatives. And so we will weigh this against the other initiatives that the Members have requested, initiatives that other stakeholders have requested, and plan as appropriate. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.