Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this is an issue that the department has been concerned about as well, to make sure that in implementing community empowerment we do not, in any way, interfere with or create any problems with self-government negotiations that might be underway in communities. We are certainly very much aware that there are a number of governing bodies in communities that need to be able to work together. A couple of ways that we have been trying to assist in this process and make sure that we are not in the way is by having, for example, in the Inuvik region our community empowerment coordinator coordinate very closely with the self-government negotiators office. She regularly meets with the chief negotiator there and participates in briefings. We also invite the chief negotiator to come to RICE meetings to brief not just our staff but also the whole Regional Management Committee in the region about what is going on at the table. This is really in an effort to share information about what is going on so that there is more awareness about what is happening in negotiations in the Beaufort Delta region. I think in the other regions where negotiations are starting up as well, we are certainly attempting to try to encourage municipalities to be informed, to be aware and to participate in a constructive way in these processes. We certainly are not trying in any way to push community empowerment in those communities in a way that would create issues between groups. If anything, we have been very much encouraging groups to get together to do shared planning for their communities. The regional staff and superintendents have been quite sensitive to how we proceed with community empowerment for the exact reasons the Member has listed. Thank you.
Ms. Ballantyne on Committee Motion 9-13(5): To Ensure Regular Inspections Of Fire Safety Equipment And Fire Safety Training
In the Legislative Assembly on February 9th, 1998. See this statement in context.
Committee Motion 9-13(5): To Ensure Regular Inspections Of Fire Safety Equipment And Fire Safety Training
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 8th, 1998
Page 656
Ballantyne
See context to find out what was said next.