Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The reason I raised the question is because there is an instance that happened in Aklavik in which the initiative was put in place to basically through a community transfer initiative, transfer the authority of the water treatment plant to the municipality. Basically they took it on for one day because the individual that they had who is the hamlet foreman, did not have a clue in regards to how that facility operated. The guy did not have any training or background in regards to the plant itself, yet the two individuals that were working for the Public Works for several years, did not have an opportunity to partake in that job offer. So that is the type of circumstances that I am afraid will occur in other areas in which the well being of the community has to come first before a public decision by an elected body is considered. There should be some safeguards in place to ensure that these people, first of all are trained and secondly are familiar with those facilities and know exactly where those problem areas are and have some experience under their belt when you deal with the facility, especially if you are dealing with water treatment, for instance. You are dealing with chemicals and how to mix these chemicals, in regards to calcium and other things that you put into the water system. I think it is critical that we have to have trained, qualified individuals to take on these responsibilities. It is great to empower a community, but without those trained people and also the personnel having some sort of a ticket or certificate to show that they are accountable if there is an incident where someone is poisoned either because of the wrong mixture in the water or someone gets sick. Who is going to be held liable, in that instance, because the individual was not trained? That is my concern.
David Krutko on Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 12th, 1997. See this statement in context.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 12th, 1997
Page 590
See context to find out what was said next.