Thank you,
Mr.
Chairman. I appreciate the comments and
advice from the Member. There are a couple of quick points.
I’ve indicated that when we looked at the firefighting issue, both the aircraft and the fire crews, there was a study that was done that laid out issues and concerns and the fact that, in terms of our requirements, we were overcrewed. I will check with the department, but if I haven’t provided that report to the EDI Committee I will make sure we get that. It was done. That particular piece was looked at very carefully. In terms of the decisions, the final decision, of course, is mine as Minister. I agreed with the plan that was brought forward. I will stand here before this House, and that is my responsibility and final decision. We went through Cabinet, but as Minister, I am the one who’s accountable.
We are going to come back in the fall, because I share the same concerns, coming from a small community, in terms of the growth in headquarters. We’re going to come back in the business-plan process with what I hope are going to be some clear options to possibly relocate some resources and services outside of Yellowknife.
We also have a plan we want to bring forward to committee to look at coming up with a clear plan by this fall in the small communities to work with those community members who may be interested in acquiring the skills to get them at least started in the business of being a renewable resource officer at an entry level. We want to give them an opportunity for training and support they might not otherwise get. They might not be able to make the entry requirements to get into the NRTP program, to get their diploma, but they may have tremendous assets otherwise that we’d like to take advantage of. They’re from the community and have awareness of the culture and the language and the land. We’re going to bring that forward, as well, as a way to get our presence more evident at the community level.