Moving on to page 6-15.

Moving on to page 6-17, Municipal and Community Affairs. Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Chair, can I ask the Minister in terms of, you know, you look at community rescue services on the winter road in the Sahtu for the time that we have the winter road, for three to four months, the issue is the search and rescue or the emergency community emergency management planning. Has the department considered using the Canadian Rangers in terms of emergency rescue or emergency measures in terms of road rescue or calling on some that are similar to the ambulance type of service? Members were talking about they have these Rangers here, that they can certainly be called up and be part of the emergency response team on the highways in between the communities. That might be something that they can work on, Have the material right now… I don’t really know if there’s any type of equipment that could be considered as emergency rescue supplies in our communities. I don’t know. Have we taken stock of what we have for use in emergency on our winter roads?

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The use of the Rangers, I mean, is not something that has been considered for when you just go on the road, because they’re usually on the land rescue type service or search and rescue. This ambulance money, I mean, we have $200,000 budgeted and it goes to the seven communities that try to provide an ambulance service. The uptake on it, we don’t have all communities because there’s a huge liability factor to it, and so I think communities are looking to try to get their capacity upgraded before they think they can take on or feel that they can take on the ground ambulance because it’s a huge liability. I think some communities just want to stay away from that until they have the proper training and proper equipment. Thank you.

I certainly agree with the Minister in terms of his explanation to the ground ambulance services. I bring this up because one of the Rangers in one of my ridings said, you know, why don’t we utilize the Rangers, get them the training, get some equipment, if there’s an accident on the winter road they can call one or two or three or four Rangers together, a quick call, small communities, with the proper supplies and equipment. It wouldn’t take very much and they could go and help our communities.

So I’m not too sure if this could be answered tonight, but have some consideration because the Rangers said they’re willing to do it in my communities and to be part of the plan there too. You know, that could be part of their exercise in the communities.

We’ll take that as advice that we can pass on. There’s a working group that’s put together and we’re always interested in listening to different ideas. So we just have to make sure that this is one that will benefit the people that are out on the ice road and make sure that the training is proper. But we’ll take this on advice and we’ll pass it on to the appropriate working group. Thank you.

Mr. Yakeleya. Next I have Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know a lot of our residents are concerned about rescue services on our highways and so on. My understanding is that there is an advisory committee that the department leads, co-leads with Health and Social Services and it includes representation from Transportation and Finance, community governments and so on. I’m wondering what the status of that committee’s work is. Apparently the goal is to produce legislative funding governments and policy framework for these services that are currently being delivered by community governments. So where are we at and are we putting some dollars into that and where is that in this budget? Thank you.

Deputy Minister, Mr. Aumond.

Just for my clarity here, what’s the difference between highway rescue and ambulance service? Thank you.

Thank you for the comments from the deputy minister. I think that addressed some of the legislative and policy framework work that’s being done by that advisory committee. Funding is the other one. I’m wondering where they’re at with regard to funding. Will they be coming up with some recommendations? I understand the intent is to conclude that work within the coming fiscal year, if I’ve got that right. How much money are we putting into this? Is the department putting into this committee work? Thank you.

I appreciate those responses. I see that in the budget. I guess I’m looking forward to seeing what recommendations this committee comes out with, especially in a way of funding to deal with the shortfalls here. Thank you.

Mr. Bromley. Okay, we’re on page 6-17, Municipal and Community Affairs, activity summary, operations expenditure summary, public safety. Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Chair, just on the last comment from the deputy minister, some of the communities that don’t feel that they will be able to access some of this $200,000 for the ground service and ambulance, does that leave an option for some of the communities who are on the winter road system that could use some of the money for winter road ground services, such as the community of Norman Wells who is asking about this here? The Town of Norman Wells is asking about this, so they’re trying to find a way to look at this issue. Thank you.

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Actually the short answer is not at this time, but it’s something that we will have to do some research on, but not at this time they won’t be able to access some of the funding that is currently not being accessed by some of the other communities. Thank you.

At this time I’d like to recognize the clock. I’ll rise and report progress. Sergeant-at-Arms, could you escort the witnesses out?