Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The department identified three major initiatives for this coming fiscal year: new mine safety legislation, new gaming initiatives and a new Liquor Act.
The committee has concerns about these initiatives. Most importantly, committee Members are concerned that this department, and perhaps the government as a whole, may be announcing a number of new initiatives which they will not be able to complete at once. Each of these initiatives is complex and potentially quite controversial. There has already been much controversy and contention over proposed new mine safety legislation, for example. Also, recent developments, such as the Catholic bishop's banning of bingo in western Arctic catholic churches, suggest that new gaming initiatives could meet with resistance and controversy.
While such initiatives may be worthy of consideration, and certainly new mine safety legislation is urgently needed, the committee feels the department should carefully prioritize its objectives.
More Safety Inspectors Needed
The government's restraint initiatives over the last few years have been effective in keeping the territories out of the kind of chronic debt that is plaguing every other government in the country. However, the Department of Safety and Public Services demonstrates that restraint can be a blunt instrument, often hurting where an impact was not desired.
The Northwest Territories is now home to the biggest staking rush in Canadian history. Since October 31, 1991, over 48 million acres, or almost six per cent of the NWT's area, have been staked for mineral exploration, mostly in search of diamonds. Two mining companies have set up bulk sample operations in hopes of being able to justify actual diamond mines. Lead/zinc exploration in the Izok Lake area continues with hopes of a new mine opening there. But, because of restraint measures, the number of mining inspectors has not increased.
The committee recognizes that mining is a dangerous occupation and that there is a need to improve our mine safety record. This, combined with the recent and anticipated growth in the mining industry, indicates that an increase in the number of mine safety inspectors is urgently required.
The committee is basically reacting to Workers' Compensation Board reports that the mining industry and the construction industry have the highest level of accidents in the Northwest Territories. Given that, committee Members feel that there is an impetus, as well, to increase the number of occupational health and safety inspectors in the construction field. Committee Members are encouraged by government assurances that the situation will be examined.
Recommendation 31
The committee recommends that the Department of Safety and Public Services develop a plan to hire more safety inspectors, especially in the areas of mine safety and occupational health and safety for construction workers, and respond to the committee with that plan by August 1, 1994.
More Fire Safety Resources Needed
The committee expressed concern about the NWT's poor fire safety record. There is a special concern that initiatives of the fire marshal's office are not being felt at the community level. Members felt that appointing and supporting a "fire chief" in each community could be the best way to address the problem. Such a person could administer and train the community's volunteer fire brigade, implement prevention initiatives, and so on.
The committee suggests that the Department of Safety and Public Services, in cooperation with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs or other departments, consider supporting positions for fire prevention and suppression in the communities, and report back to the committee with an analysis.