Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize an important group of people in our communities, our local volunteer fire men and ladies. I think we have to realize, with the circumstances that we have come to see in the last number of weeks, how important it is that the firefighters who volunteer their time to protect and ensure the safety of the Northwest Territories. These members of our communities put their lives on the line every time they respond to a fire in our communities. Most importantly, they volunteer their time at no cost.
Yet, Mr. Speaker, I think it is important, as a government, that we start taking hold of the importance that these people play in ensuring the protection of the lives of the people and the property in our communities. Mr. Speaker, in a lot of our communities we have over 20-year-old fire trucks and outdated equipment. We have to give them the tools to do their job and give them the training so that they can do the best job expected of them. Mr. Speaker, we do have to realize that there are people out there who have volunteered their time and have put time and effort into ensuring that they protect the property in our communities.
Mr. Speaker, at this time, volunteer firefighters in our communities are having to raise money through bingos to acquire the equipment that they need and which is essential for them to maintain their equipment in our communities, and to ensure that they have the quality of equipment. Presently, a lot of that is outdated.
Mr. Speaker, as a government, I believe we have to put a higher priority on the firefighting protection in our communities so that we can ensure that the volunteers feel that we are showing respect for what they are doing; putting their lives on the line and not asking for anything, but for us to stand up and support their endeavours.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister some questions on this matter. Thank you.
-- Applause