Thank you. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can advise the honourable Member that there already are some courses offered outside of the Northwest Territories for anyone who wants to be skilled in this field. Part of the information could be received through discussions with our peer centres or With the Department of Renewable Resources. However, I can advise the honourable Member that there is no program offered in Aurora College or Nunavut Arctic College. It is our intention to discuss the matter of developing an appropriate program, but it will take us some time. We need to have discussions with Aurora College, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, probably Education, Culture and Employment, and Renewable Resources in order for us to be certain we have the appropriate program in place, but it will take us some time. We are interested in reviewing this matter and bringing forward a response to the suggestion made by the honourable Member.

Mr. Whitford, second supplementary. Are you finished?

Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for fire suppression a question with respect to his Minister's statement. I commend him for being able to give an increase to the certified firefighters, as they certainly are worth all of the money that they make. They work very hard and they work in very hard conditions. I've noted that the Minister has increased their wages from $8.75 to $11.50 per hour. The Minister indicated in Fort Smith in May that he was going to do this. I would like to ask the Minister whether this increase in salary is effective today's date, or at the beginning of the fire season. Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This would not be retroactive because I had not gotten Cabinet approval until Thursday or Friday to carry this out. This is for the emergency firefighters and casual firefighters. Thank you.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, the other question I want to ask under the responsibility of the same Minister is with respect to --as he indicated in his Minister's statement --how the department plans to address using resources; whether it be helicopters, fixed-wing, or machinery

from the community. With respect to requesting resources to assist with the fire, is it the responsibility of the Government of the Northwest Territories fire management program to call in the resources, or is it the responsibility of the contractor providing these types of services to the government? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's my understanding that if equipment is needed on the fire, the fire boss is the one who requests it through his regional office and that goes to the fire centre that controls all of them. Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Morin. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Would the Minister be able to determine whether it is the northern contractor to be able to bring in these resources, or a departmental responsibility and advise the House? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I get the Member to repeat the question, I didn't hear it.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell, can you repeat the question?

As the Minister indicated, it's up to the fire centre to determine. Would the Minister determine whether or not the fire centre acquires the resources from northern contractors, or does the department take on the responsibility of acquiring these services and advise the House accordingly? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my understanding that the fire centre is in the Department of Renewable Resources, and it's my understanding that they make the request. For example, it they need...(inaudible)...helicopters or more bombers, they make the request directly to the deputy minister, Joe Handley, and he has the final say on whether it comes here. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you. Since the Minister does not know for sure what the process is, Mr. Speaker, my understanding is fire control asks the contractor to provide resources if they're fixed-wing, helicopter or any type of aircraft. I'm trying to determine who the responsibility lies with; whether it is the contractor who brings in these services, or whether it's a departmental responsibility. This is why I'm trying to determine this, in order to be able to question the process used when they want to get southern expertise to assist them in fighting fires. Thank you.

Thanks very much, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll take that question as notice.