Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What we’ve observed, of course, is every community’s worst nightmare, where there is a confluence of time and events, and circumstances and conditions of weather and dryness that resulted in significant wind that resulted in a catastrophic event.
For ourselves in the Northwest Territories we have our fire crews in place. While we recognize that it is much drier than normal, we have our contracts with bombers and the rotary wing craft. We have been working long and hard in the communities to do FireSmart programs. We have changed our command and control structures when it comes to dealing with fires and making decisions at the fire site up through the chain of command so that people on the ground can now be able to respond quickly and efficiently with knowledge that they have, and not have to wait for it to bump its way up from Fort Smith or Yellowknife or some other place.
As we prepare for the fire season, we look to the south. Nightly I’ll look to the sky and as I say my goodnight prayers, I’m always praying for rain these days.