I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Edward Picco on February 24, 1997.

I have reviewed the department's fire training plan in preparing my response to the Member's question on GNWT support for the emergency response services program at the Iqaluit airport. In 1995/96, MACA and the Department of Safety and Public Services initiated a three-year fire training plan to better address the training needs of community fire departments.

This training plan was aimed at addressing recommendations of the NWT Association of Municipalities and the NWT Fire Chiefs Association, which called for public education programs, basic fire fighter and specialized fire command officer training. The goal of this initiative was to develop a foundation for community-based fire instruction and public education programs. Community participants are provided Level 1 and 2 fire fighter training, which is followed up by community specific training on local equipment and facilities. Command officer training and train-the-trainer programs are also offered to selected candidates.

However, funding was not provided as a part of this initiative for a training program to support ERS at airports. The level of service to be provided must be rationalized with the actual risk and the ability to respond. This issue prompted Transport Canada to revise regulations which removed the necessity for providing dedicated full-time ERS at most Canadian airports. Statistics do not support the maintenance of full-time ERS at all airports.

It is not recommended that ERS response be maintained at any but the busiest airports. There are serious liability concerns if an airport attempted to maintain a full ERS response but was unable to prevent certain fatalities after a serious accident. It would not be necessary to utilize the Duluth training facility, referenced by the Member earlier in the House, unless the government was committed to maintaining a full ERS response capability. This would be a very expensive proposition.

Airport certification requirements do not require an ERS response but do require an adequate airport emergency plan to be in place. The risk management advice received by the government supports the premise that this more cost effective approach will minimize the liability that may follow an airport incident.

MACA plans to collaborate with the Department of Transportation and the town of Iqaluit on the development of an airport emergency plan which will reflect new emergency response arrangements. Planning will need to commence to revise the airport emergency plan to establish formal links with the GNWT regional emergency committee and the town's emergency response system. It is envisaged that the airport emergency plan will operate in conjunction with the community's emergency plan and as a component of the GNWT regional plan.

The GNWT regional plan will be able to provide the medium for a co-ordinated multi-agency response to an airport incident in Iqaluit. This will not be an ERS response, but it is considered a reasonable and manageable plan to implement. The town of Iqaluit will not be asked to maintain the current level of ERS response once provision of this service is terminated by the Department of Transportation on March 31. The town is considering participation in a multi-agency response to an airport incident, which would include territorial and municipal agencies. The town will be invited to work with the Department of Transportation and MACA officials to establish such a response system. GNWT staff are prepared to initiate this process as soon as agreement from the town is received.

Issues related to appropriate equipment and training will also be addressed during planning meetings, which will need to occur in the immediate future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.