This is page numbers 515 - 539 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 4th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was tax.

Topics

Supplementary To Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 524

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Further Return To Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 524

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since this is detailed, I would like to have some time to have our department, especially the fire marshal's office, do an inventory of the equipment and an inventory of the community needs, then begin to look at implementing training programs so that the volunteer firefighters will have the most up-to-date and efficient equipment.

As for the age of much of the equipment, we are finding that in the assessment of that equipment, it is seldom used. So I think the important thing is to get an idea of how often is it being used for a fire practice, and get an idea of the amount of time spent on it and see if we can at least get an idea of where that equipment is being used and how often. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 524

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 524

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I hope the Minister does not lose sight of the fact that we should also be talking to the volunteer firefighters themselves because I feel that they should have a say in what equipment they determine they require.

Right now, there are volunteer firefighters who are raising funds through bingos, bake sales, 50/50 draws, just so they can purchase some of the equipment that they require. I would like to ask the Minister, exactly where do the firefighters themselves fit into your idea of ensuring they have the equipment to do the job?

Supplementary To Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 524

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Further Return To Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 524

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we definitely want to review the importance of this item. The other Members of this House asked me last week what are we doing for the volunteer firefighters. There are a number of initiatives we would like to consider. Some of them are to talk to the fire brigades to see exactly what the needs are. It is difficult at this time to ascertain those needs.

Perhaps one of the good things I can announce today is that we want to put more funding into the fire protection for the communities so hopefully, that is part of the overall strategy we can employ. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 524

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 524

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think we also have to realize that we do have a growing population in a lot of our communities. We have a lot of new infrastructure which, in most cases, is two or three stories high. I would like to ensure the Minister also takes that into account when he does this review and ensure the equipment that is there for the community also meets the need of the community in regard to exactly what infrastructure is there and ensuring they are able to do the job when they are fighting these fires.

Supplementary To Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 524

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Further Return To Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 524

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly appreciate the comment and the question because we want to put emphasis on training the volunteer firefighters to meet the ever-growing demands, the different type of structures coming into the North. There are very different building methods so we did get prepared for that, as well as trying to update our fire brigades on some of the new technology that is being introduced into the North as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Question 163-14(4): Equipment And Training For Volunteer Firefighters
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 524

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Question 164-14(4): Support For Elite Sport And Recreation
Item 6: Oral Questions

October 29th, 2001

Page 524

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pursue my question on the Member's statement I made earlier with respect to sports and recreation in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I do not know if I am supposed to read anything into it, but the discussion paper the Minister handed to us a couple of weeks ago did not indicate whether it was a strategy, a study or a policy. It just simply said, Recreation and Sports in the NWT. May I please ask the Minister as to what his plans are, what his department's plans are with respect to this document he sent out for distribution? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Interjection

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the midst of this momentary confusion, can I ask the Member to ask the question again?

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. For the benefit of Mr. Allen, please repeat your question, Ms. Lee.

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not know if my colleagues are liking this time lapse here, but anyway, Mr. Speaker, my question was directed to Minister Allen and it has to do with the Recreation and Sports in the NWT document that he sent around for discussion. I would like to know what his plan is with respect to this document. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Return To Question 164-14(4): Support For Elite Sport And Recreation
Question 164-14(4): Support For Elite Sport And Recreation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 525

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I apologize for not taking the question earlier. Yes, the discussion paper is essentially that, to get feedback from the community, the sports partners, the recreation associations, all the interest groups out there so we can take the position later on and present it to all the sports partners, recreation partners, et al.

The intent was to share it with the Members and the communities and come out with a final draft so we can then implement some of the policy changes that are required to improve sports and recreation activities in the North. Thank you.

Return To Question 164-14(4): Support For Elite Sport And Recreation
Question 164-14(4): Support For Elite Sport And Recreation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 525

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 164-14(4): Support For Elite Sport And Recreation
Question 164-14(4): Support For Elite Sport And Recreation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 525

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have had a chance to take a look at that discussion paper and I see no indication there about the elite program or any measure of help for those who are having to fund their children's private training programs. I wanted to keep it clear for the record that it is not that I think that this deserves more attention than any other area of need for sports and recreation programs, but I noticed that it was not included in that.

May I ask the Minister whether or not he had given any consideration to this area? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 164-14(4): Support For Elite Sport And Recreation
Question 164-14(4): Support For Elite Sport And Recreation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 525

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Further Return To Question 164-14(4): Support For Elite Sport And Recreation
Question 164-14(4): Support For Elite Sport And Recreation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 525

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to advise the Member that this program is already in place and, in effect, it is managed through Sport North. I could probably request further information, but there is a program already in existence through Sport North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 164-14(4): Support For Elite Sport And Recreation
Question 164-14(4): Support For Elite Sport And Recreation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 525

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 164-14(4): Support For Elite Sport And Recreation
Question 164-14(4): Support For Elite Sport And Recreation
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 525

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is those programs are not accessible to everyone and especially not my constituent. I think what my constituent is looking for is something like a tax deduction or something aimed at those parents at a very low income who are funding students. I wonder if the Minister would be interested in talking to his colleague, the Minister of Finance, to see if there is anything that can be done in this area? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.