Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are able to determine quite a number of the things that the Member does ask about. There is a major truck stop on Highway 1, just outside of Enterprise, or right on the boundaries of Enterprise. There are also traffic counters on the highways, so we can determine numbers of vehicles using those routes, but that is also visual.

When a vehicle passes by, or vehicles pass by, we are able to determine their destinations by a number of ways. Certainly, by their checking in to the weight scales to be weighed, and by compliance with our highway requirements. That is how we determine how the patrols are conducted.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There are two permanent facilities. One is located, as I said earlier, at Enterprise, it is right at the edge of the town of Enterprise. That is a kind of junction point, going into Hay River, formerly to Pine Point, or Fort Smith, and also branching off to go north to Yellowknife and Fort Simpson.

There is also a permanent facility located at Inuvik. That catches traffic arriving and departing the Inuvik area for the Dempster. At one point, Mr. Chairman, there was a facility located on the Liard, but it was discontinued because of the low volume of traffic that was using that facility.

Most of the vehicles going to northern communities either pass the Enterprise route, going to Fort Simpson, or else they go into the Yukon, up to the Dempster. The very small volume of traffic coming in from British Columbia into the Northwest Territories was discontinued. There is also provisions, Mr. Chairman, for a portable weigh scales if it is deemed necessary under certain conditions.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I did not have an opportunity to introduce my two witnesses at the commencement. I have my acting Deputy Minister, Mr. Gamble, to my left, and to my right is our Director of Finance, Jim Wilson.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have a few opening remarks.

I am pleased to present the proposed 1992-93 O and M budget for the Department of Safety and Public Services. For 1992-93, the department is requesting $6.354, compared to last year's budget of $6.690, for a net reduction of $336,000. In order to meet the government's guidelines for expenditure reductions, the following actions have been taken: 1. Two person years were cut, with a net reduction of $109.000;

2. A reduction of $194,000 in travel. The majority of this reduction was for travel outside the Northwest Territories;

3. A reduction of $25,000 in materials and supplies;

4. A reduction of $29,000 in professional development;

5. A reduction of $54,000 in contract services; and

6. A reduction of $63,000 in grants and miscellaneous O and M.

The department has no forced growth increases to offset the $474,000 reduction. However, the department did receive supplementary funding of $138,000, as reflected in the revised forecast.

The majority of this is a $105,000 increase in funding to the Public Utility Board, resulting from the split with the Highway Transport Board.

There will be minor reductions in services the department provides. Scheduled air flights will be utilized instead of charter aircraft, wherever, and whenever possible.

In closing, Mr. Chairman, the department has three major initiatives under way. First, work is proceeding well on drafting the new mine safety legislation and regulations.

Second, the department is finalizing a series of discussion papers on labour standards that will be distributed for public comment later.

Third, the department is reviewing the lottery and gambling areas.

Those, Mr. Chairman, are my remarks, and I would be pleased to answer any questions that the committee may have.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As is the usual case, our comments are contained in the preambles to motions that we will be presently. The first one has to do with the office of the Fire Marshall.

Mr. Chairman, this Assembly approved a motion that Cabinet re-examine the relevant safety acts, and that a process be put in place to ensure reasonable safety standards are followed. The office of the Fire Marshall is monitored and an expeditious appeal mechanism is put in place.

The Minister has advised Cabinet that the motion should not be followed. However, the Minister did not outline the reasons for this position during committee hearings. Acknowledging that the current legislation follows a southern model, that may not consider unique N.W.T. conditions, and that further discussion is required with local fire chiefs and industry participation.

The committee recognizes that the N.W.T. has some of the highest fire loss statistics in the country, and does not wish to take away from the personal safety requirements. We also recognize that the federal fire code has a major part to play. However, the committee has been told by the public of examples that call the current system into question. For example, doors that exit outwards are not practical in eastern Arctic snow storms, requiring two layers of gyproc for fire protection, and permitting them to be covered with more flammable pine, is contrary to the trades recommendation, of gas inspectors, insisting on a non flexible propane connector. This has actually led to a dangerous uncoupling situation, and requiring 1.5 R-rated fire doors that remain open all the time, and requiring 1.5 R-rated fire doors connected to a more flammable separating wall, of over 5/8" gyproc. Trades people believe the rules change irrationally for different situations and different days, and businesses have had to spend additional funds, or lose sales as a result of rules in what appear to be non life threatening situations.

We fail to understand the governments reluctance to put a process in place to ensure reasonable safety standards are followed, to allow appeals and to monitor the office of the Fire Marshall.

Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Safety and Public Service put a process in place to ensure reasonable safety standards are followed to allow appeals and to monitor the office of the Fire Marshall. These standards should recognize, be reflective of unique northern circumstances, and should be developed in consultation with, and responsive to, local and regional input, including trades people, the business community, Public Works, local fire chiefs, and other affected people.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Our next resolution has to do with labour standards complaints. The committee was impressed that the department was able to provide detailed performance indicators for the labour services division, when requested. Among other things, this data indicated that 67 percent of complaints were concluded within 60 days. However, the division was not able to conduct the minimum number of educational visits and payroll inspections expected. The committee is concerned with the turnaround time of the 33 percent of complaints that take more than 60 days, and service provided to employers and employees.

Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Safety and Public Services improve the turn around time of the 33 percent of complaints that take more than 60 days, and provide an indication of user satisfaction with the 1993-94 main estimates.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The next resolution has to do with inspection travel. In a number of instances, the budget for safety inspection travel was reduced. The

committee is concerned that the ability of the department to inspect safety conditions may be impaired.