Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, under emergency measures, EMO helps communities develop the capability to respond to civil emergencies. It also co-ordinates the GNWT involvement in emergency operations. A crash at an airport, to me, would be a civil emergency and would mean GNWT would have to be involved. I would expect that EMO would be doing that. I understand the training is needed for our volunteers and the issue here, Madam Chair, is the liability. If our volunteer fire department goes to the airport to respond after March 31st and they do not have the ability or the training to take on an aircraft, there could be a liability if one of our volunteer fire fighters are injured at the site because he did not have the specialized training he needed. If the volunteer fire department responds and there is a problem, it could also be liable. Then that means the town is liable. It is a very serious concern. I understand the training available is at Duluth, Minnesota, because when I brought this up before after the CF-18 crash this past summer, we had to send some of our people for training in Duluth. If, after they have been studying this in Duluth, Minnesota or a similar place, is that what the Minister and the department is telling me, they need to do specialized training outside the territories? Is there a possibility of bringing someone to deliver the specialized training in the territories? Is that part of the delay because I have not seen the response?
Edward Picco on Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 28th, 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 27th, 1997
Page 979
Edward Picco Iqaluit
See context to find out what was said next.