Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all in here I think appreciate the value of this type of service. However, there are a number of things we need to look at. I think a couple of Members have pointed out some of the challenges we face. One of the therefores in the motion is that we update the Fire Prevention Act. The Fire Prevention Act regulates the investigation, reporting of fire hazards. It does not address ground ambulance or highway rescue in the Northwest Territories. We're working on updating the Fire Prevention Act right now and we need to keep that work going to ensure that that act is... If we were to try combining the two policy initiatives, it may delay the Fire Prevention Act, which we don't want at this point.
I have said in this House on a number of occasions that we have formed a new departmental committee. They're tasked with looking at the overall picture across the Northwest Territories. An important part of the committee's work is going to be dealing with exactly the situation that Mr. Hawkins mentioned yesterday on the Highway Emergency Alerting Protocol. They're going to update that and have a look at that.
Work is going on. I have said that before. We continue to do our work.
Our municipal legislation allows our communities to establish, and deliver, and operate services such as fire rescue and ambulance. It also allows communities to extend fire and ambulance services outside the community boundaries. The point is being made, and is well taken, that we need to do what we can to assist our communities.
One of the things we're looking at is training opportunities. I think that's first and foremost, and most important is to ensure we have properly trained folks that are running out to respond to any type of emergency. Then part of the committee's work is to work with the communities to identify equipment and maintenance, administration and training. We are doing that. We're undertaking that right now. We're working very closely with Health and Social Services. They are looking at moving forward with developing standards on this particular issue. So we're working closely with them. We're working closely with Transportation.
All the issues that the Members speak of, I think we're doing a lot of the work. Because there is such interest and it's a very important topic, and there's is no denying that, we'll commit to our colleagues that at the first available opportunity, we would like to provide a briefing to committee to share our vision, get their input on a territorial-wide strategy. We look forward to that opportunity. It will give Members some clarity and help provide some direction. We are looking forward to that opportunity.
I would like to assure Members that this is a very important issue and it's one that we take quite seriously. We've already done a lot of the work. Again, the most important part here is to ensure that our community first responders are trained and able to respond to emergencies. I think one Member may have pointed out that, in our desire to be helpful, some people just rush in and help because that's just the way we are. We're Northerners. That's just our nature. But sometimes we may do more harm than good. So we want to make sure that all of our folks are trained.
As this is a direction to Cabinet, we will be abstaining from the motion. Thank you.