The health of our residents and our environment depend on the effective management and protection of our natural resources such as our water. Communities, non-government agencies and all levels of government must work together to ensure that a safe drinking water system is in place and operating effectively.
The Government of the Northwest Territories' Drinking Water Quality Framework and Strategy has been developed collaboratively by the departments of Municipal and Community Affairs, Public Works and Services, Environment and Natural Resources and Health and Social Services, with a mandate to protect drinking water quality in Northwest Territories communities.
Key goals contained within the framework include enhancing community capacity and providing effective monitoring and assessments of local water systems. To address this objective, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Services, has initiated a Northwest Territories Circuit Rider Training Program to support water treatment plant operators.
The Circuit Rider Training Program provides an experienced water system operator, or circuit rider, onsite in the community to support the water treatment plant operator. The circuit rider works with the local community operator to improve the operational efficiency of the water system by providing assessment and ongoing training to help build knowledge, skills and competencies.
The ultimate goal of the Circuit Rider Training Program is to work with communities to provide safe drinking water by improving operational efficiency of water treatment plants and water supply systems, as well as enhancing the skills of water treatment plant operators. The Circuit Rider Training Program will result in community-specific operational and maintenance plans as well as customized training plans in participating communities.
In 2006-2007, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is working with eight communities who will benefit from the first year of this Northwest Territories customized plan. The eight communities are Whati, Gameti, Wekweeti, Wrigley, Trout Lake, Lutselk'e, Deline and Paulatuk.
Initial assessments will be completed with the communities to identify operational issues and competency levels of local operators, after which a plan for support will be developed and implemented.
The Circuit Rider Program will result in Improved operations at community water treatment plants and increased skills among operators.
We look forward to continued success in our partnerships with communities to help ensure the health of our communities and safe drinking water for all residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause