This is page numbers 4467 – 4510 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was services.

Topics

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

II. Accountability

1. Conduct a thorough review of the accountability

framework

According to the Auditor General’s report, the current accountability framework leaves the director with little control over the day-to-day operations for which he is ultimately responsible under the act. While the director authorizes child protection workers to exercise many of his duties and make decisions on his behalf, these workers are employed by the regional authorities and report to managers who are not accountable either to the department or the director for child and family services delivered in their region. This is a serious impediment to accountability.

During the public review, departmental officials tended to blame problems with accountability on a broken system. Departmental officials must not be allowed to deflect or redirect blame, but rather must demonstrate a greater degree of leadership.

To date, the department has not made full use of a statutory provision allowing the director to appoint assistant directors in the regional authorities. An assistant director has been appointed in one of the regional authorities. During the audit, the department was unable to explain why this provision had not been more widely used.

With respect to accountability and oversight, two promising signs emerged during the public review. First, departmental witnesses stated their intention to appoint CEOs in the regional authorities as assistant directors of child and family services.

Second, they stated that progressive discipline will be introduced for the first time. Members learned that child protection workers and supervisors have been informed that, as the most extreme form of discipline, their statutory appointments may be revoked if the required eyes-on contact is not made

with children in care of the director or other serious breaches of policy or procedure occur.

Recommendation 9

The Standing Committee on Government Operations concurs with the Auditor General and recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services conduct a thorough review of its accountability framework for child and family services to identify existing deficiencies and implement mechanisms to enhance accountability.

2. Incorporate a performance component in contribution

agreements

The current conditions of contribution agreements only require regional authorities to submit audited financial statements and incident reports. However, these documents do not provide the department with information it needs to evaluate compliance with the Child and Family Services Act. By incorporating a performance component in contribution agreements, the accountability framework would be strengthened significantly.

Recommendation 10

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that contribution agreements with the health and social services authorities include a performance component clearly indicating that funding is contingent on compliance with the Child and Family Services Act. This action should be taken immediately.

3. Complete required compliance audits

Under the Child and Family Services Standards and Procedures Manual, the department is required to conduct annual compliance audits across all regions. However, these audits are not being completed. During the three-year audit period, a total of 21 audits should have been completed across the regional authorities. In fact, only three audits were completed, along with one follow-up action plan to address deficiencies.

Failure to complete these audits is significant. Compliance audits provide the department with crucial information for monitoring compliance with the act and, more fundamentally, ensuring that children are being protected from harm, abuse and neglect.

Recommendation 11

The Standing Committee on Government Operations concurs with the Auditor General of Canada and recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services conduct compliance audits of child and family services files annually in all health and social services authorities, as required by the Child and Family Services Standards and Procedures Manual. It should also require health and social services

authorities to submit action plans to address deficiencies and monitor their implementation.

As an additional accountability mechanism, the committee recommends that all internal compliance audits and associated action plans be forwarded to the Standing Committee on Social Programs.

Recommendation 12

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that internal compliance audits and action plans designed to address deficiencies prepared by regional authorities be forwarded to the Standing Committee on Social Programs.

4. Table compliance audits in the Legislative Assembly

The committee recommends that compliance audit reports be tabled as a matter of course and further that these audit reports include updates on indicators associated with Exhibits 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Auditor General’s report.

Recommendation 13

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that internal compliance audits, and action plans designed to address deficiencies prepared by regional authorities be modified for privacy considerations and tabled in the Legislative Assembly. The committee further recommends that internal audits include updates on indicators associated with Exhibits 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Auditor General’s report.

5. Report annually to the Minister as required

under the act

The act requires the director to report annually to the Minister of Health and Social Services. The Auditor General found that reporting had not taken place since 2002. In the absence of such reporting, the Minister has limited assurance that the system is meeting the needs of children, youth and families. This finding is significant.

Recommendation 14

The Standing Committee on Government Operations concurs with the Auditor General of Canada and recommends that the director of child and family services report annually to the Minister of Health and Social Services, as required under the Child and Family Services Act.

6. Table the director’s annual report in the

Legislative Assembly

The department should commit to tabling the director’s annual report to the Minister in the Legislative Assembly each year. The report should include updates for each of the regional authorities on indicators associated with Exhibits 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Auditor General’s report.

Recommendation 15

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Minister of Health and Social Services table the director’s annual report each year in the Legislative Assembly. The Standing Committee further recommends that the Minister of Health and Social Services arrange for the director’s annual report to include updates for each regional authority on indicators associated with Exhibits 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Auditor General’s report.

7. Adopt indicators associated with Exhibits 3, 4, 5

and 6 of the Auditor General’s report as performance measures in all future departmental business plans

Finally, the annual departmental business plan should incorporate updated data on indicators associated with Exhibits 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Auditor General’s report.

Recommendation 16

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that all future departmental business plans adopt as performance measures the indicators associated with Exhibits 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Auditor General’s report.

I’d like to turn this over to my colleague Mr. Moses.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. To the report, Mr. Moses.

Alfred Moses

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

III. Support for delivery of services

1. Conduct a thorough review of required

resources

When the Child and Family Services Act came into force in 1998, the department set funding levels without assessing what resources would be required to fulfill its statutory obligations. Since 1998 the department has never done a comprehensive assessment of this kind. When asked by the Auditor General’s team to provide a rationale for the 1998 funding levels, the department was unable to do so.

The 2000 report by the Child Welfare League recommended that the department rationalize the allocation of resources. Unfortunately, when asked by the Auditor General for the department’s response to that report, departmental officials were unable to locate it.

The committee concurs with the Auditor General’s recommendation that the department assess the human and financial resources required to fulfill its obligations under the act. The urgency of this task cannot be overstated.

In light of the substantial deficiencies identified by the Auditor General, Members were puzzled during

the public review when departmental witnesses said additional resources may not be required. The committee’s view is that additional resources are almost certainly required. Any needs for additional resources should be communicated through the business planning process or, if necessary, through a supplementary appropriation request.

Recommendation 17

The Standing Committee on Government Operations concurs with the Auditor General of Canada and recommends that the Department of health and social services, in conjunction with the Health and Social Services authorities, perform a detailed assessment of the financial and human resource requirements for delivering child and family services. The department should then revisit this assessment periodically to identify any necessary changes.

2. Complete revisions to the Child and Family

Services Standards and Procedures Manual

The audit examined whether clear standards, procedures, guidance and tools are in place to facilitate effective service delivery by the regional authorities and child protection workers. The audit determined that the department has failed in this area.

The department developed the Child and Family Services Standards and Procedures Manual in 1998. Despite attempts over the better part of a decade to revise the manual, the department has never completed this task. As a result, the manual has never been updated to keep pace with changes to the act or best practices in child welfare.

The audit also determined that some sections of the manual are lacking tools and guidance to assist child protection workers in meeting key requirements. These include sections on conducting investigations, administering plan of care agreements and screening prospective foster homes. The absence of standardized procedures for all key responsibilities is a significant deficiency. It represents a grave failure to support child protection workers. This likely affects morale, staff turnover and, ultimately, the well-being of children.

Recommendation 18

The Standing Committee on Government Operations concurs with the Auditor General of Canada and recommends that Department of Health and Social Services, in consultation with the health and social services authorities, update and clarify the Child and Family Services Standards and Procedures Manual and identify additional tools and guidance to better assist child protection workers in meeting key requirements of the Child and Family Services Act.

Recommendation 19

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services complete revisions to the Child and Family Services Standards and Procedures Manual by December 2014.

Recommendation 20

The Standing Committee on Government Operations concurs with the Auditor General of Canada and recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services, in consultation with the health and social services authorities, develop a process for all parties involved in the delivery of child and family services to share information on best practices and challenges in delivery of these services.

3. Improve mandatory training

The department is responsible for providing mandatory introductory training to child protection workers. Members learned during the public review that this training typically spans a two-week period.

When child protection workers were asked by the Auditor General team about the effectiveness of this training, their responses were mixed. Some stated the training helped them understand their jobs but others said the training did not provide adequate guidance on how to apply the act and the manual in their daily work. The department should assess the effectiveness of the existing training program and make enhancements accordingly.

Recommendation 21

The Standing Committee on Government Operations concurs with the Auditor General of Canada and recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services, in consultation with the Health and Social Services authorities, provide training to all child protection workers for all key responsibilities required to carry out child and family services. It should also assess whether the training provided is meeting the needs of child protection workers to deliver child and family services and make the necessary improvements as soon as possible.

4. Solicit input from child protection workers

During the public review, Members asked what opportunities child protection workers have to convey their ideas for improving the system. Members learned that informal opportunities – such as regular teleconferences – exist for child protection workers to communicate with departmental managers. However, Members do not think this is adequate and recommend a formal process for front-line experts to provide input.

Recommendation 22

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Department of

Health and Social Services implement an ongoing formal process whereby child protection workers have an opportunity to recommend improvements for the child and family services system.

5. Improve working conditions for child protection

workers

The committee has serious concerns about stressful working conditions faced by child protection workers. The Auditor General reported that some workers consider their workloads to be high. The problem of overwork is not new. It is identified as a serious barrier to effective service delivery in the 2010 report by the Standing Committee on Social Programs.

Unfortunately, the department has never developed caseload standards, so it is not in a position to determine whether staffing levels are adequate.

Upon completing the assessment of required financial and human resources, the department should revise the funding methodology for regional authorities and establish territory-wide caseload standards.

Members urge caution in assessing caseload standards. The appropriate caseload for child protection workers in Yellowknife, where a comparatively large number of resources and other helping professionals are on hand, may be higher than in communities such as Sachs Harbour or Trout Lake. The caseload assessment should be sensitive to the fact that social workers employed by regional authorities are sometimes required to perform duties beyond the area of child and family services.

Recommendation 23

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services revise the funding methodology for the regional authorities upon completing the assessment of required resources.

Recommendation 24

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services establish territory-wide caseload standards for child protection workers, and further that the Department of Health and Social Services ensure that caseloads are fairly balanced across the regional authorities. Due consideration should be given to regional variation and duties, demands and available resources.

6. Increase support for the social work program at

Aurora College

Finally, Members recommend additional support for the social work program at Aurora College to increase the number of Aboriginal students who

complete the program and subsequently have opportunities to serve as child protection workers.

Recommendation 25

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services work with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and Aurora College to enhance supports for students in the social work program with a goal of increasing the number of home-grown Aboriginal students. A bursary program should be established. Online coursework and distance education options should also be considered.

I would like to now turn the report over to my colleague Ms. Bisaro.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Moses. To the report, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

IV. Child protection services and foster care

1. Summary of observations

Child protection workers, who are employed by the regional authorities, are the face of child and family services. They deliver services on behalf of the director. The Auditor General examined whether the regional authorities are meeting key requirements under the act and the manual. Thirteen key requirements were examined in four areas: investigations (Exhibit 3); addressing confirmed needs for child protection (Exhibit 4); providing services to children in care of the director (Exhibit 5); and screening and reviewing foster care homes (Exhibit 6).

A sample was drawn from 46 case files for individual children, 26 who were receiving services in the parental home and 17 who were under the care of the director. Another sample was drawn from 36 files of regular, provisional and extended-family foster homes. The following observations were recorded:

A. Regional authorities responded quickly to reported concerns for children -

The vast majorityof investigations, 92 percent, were conducted within 24 hours, as required by the act.

B. Key investigations steps were not followed -

The manual requires specific steps for assessing a child’s safety. However, safety assessments were not always completed. In 27 percent of cases, the required interviews with children and other family members were not performed. In 28 percent of the files, concerns about children possibly needing protection were not investigated. In 13 percent of investigations, safety factors were not assessed. Failure to follow required investigation steps leaves children at risk. In 66 percent of cases where proper steps were not followed, subsequent investigations ultimately found the child in need of protection.

C. Investigations did not assess longer-term risk -

The statutory requirement to assess longer-term risk was not met in any of the case files. Most files were simply closed if the investigation showed the child was not at immediate risk. Yet the majority of these case files were subsequently reopened.

D. Plan of care agreements were not properly monitored -

In cases where a child is deemed to need protection, the child may be allowed to remain in the parental home if a plan of care agreement is signed and followed. The Auditor General examined 37 plan of care agreements and found that more than half were not properly monitored. Furthermore, workers had not maintained regular contact with these children, as required by law. In 76 percent of cases, further protection concerns arose after the plan of care agreement was put in place.

E. Children in custody were not sufficiently monitored -

Once a child has been placed in temporary or permanent custody, child protection workers are required to maintain regular contact. The Auditor General found that children placed in extended family foster care homes were least likely to receive follow-up services. In 59 percent of cases, regional authorities did not maintain regular contact with these children. Furthermore, none of the required case reviews were completed.

F. Foster homes were not screened or reviewed annually -

Of the 36 files reviewed, 69 percent of the homes were not properly screened. In two cases this resulted in children being placed in foster homes that were later closed due to allegations of abuse and neglect.

G. There is no standardized approach to foster care -

Beyond standard rates of pay for foster parents, there are no territory-wide standards for delivering foster care. As a result, there are disparities across the regional authorities in levels of support given to foster care children and families. Across the territory, there is a chronic shortage of foster care families.

H. There are gaps in services for youth -

Under the act, most youth who are 16 or older are not eligible for protection services such as foster care, yet they are not eligible for territorial programs such as Income Assistance until the age of majority.

2. Develop a tool for longer-term risk assessment

Failure to assess longer-term risk results in recurring interactions with the system. In one case, for example, the Auditor General discovered that a child had been apprehended nine times.

The department agreed with the Auditor General’s recommendation to develop a tool for assessing longer-term risk but indicated the tool would not be in use before 2015-16 at the earliest. The committee thinks this is too long to wait and urges the department to make it a top priority to develop this tool.

In addition, as a word of caution in this endeavour, the committee urges the department not to operate under the illusion that neglect is a lesser form of abuse. Neglect can be extremely damaging to a child’s well-being and often entails serious long-term consequences.

Recommendation 26

The Standing Committee on Government Operations concurs with the Auditor General of Canada and recommends that health and social services authorities, in consultation with the Department of Health and Social Services, develop a tool to ensure that longer-term risks to children are formally assessed when determining a child’s safety, as required under the Child and Family Services Act. This tool should be ready for use by front-line workers within the current fiscal year. To expedite the process, the department should look to other jurisdictions for guidance.

3. Ensure services are delivered in compliance with the act and manual

Inadequate monitoring of plan of care agreements and of children in custody is simply unacceptable. Likewise, failures to screen and review foster homes are unacceptable. Such practices must not continue. Barriers to proper service delivery – such as insufficient resources or inadequate training – must be assessed and promptly addressed. Efforts should also be made to standardize foster care across the territory.

Recommendation 27

The Standing Committee on Government Operations concurs with the Auditor General of Canada and recommends that the health and social services authorities comply with the Child and Family Services Act and the Child and Family Services Standards and Procedures Manual in their delivery of services to children and families. They should ensure that key requirements are met when: investigating concerns about child safety and well-being; providing protective services to children to address confirmed child protection needs; providing services to children under the care of the director of child and family services; and performing screening and monitoring of foster care homes.

Recommendation 28

The Standing Committee on Government Operations concurs with the Auditor General of Canada and recommends that health and social services authorities, in consultation with the Department of Health and Social Services, should regularly assess whether the services they provide to children and families are in compliance with the Child and Family Services Act and the Child and Family Services Standards and Procedures Manual. The results of these assessments should be used to improve compliance and should be shared with the director of child and family services.

4. Address gaps in services for youth

For decades, youth aged 16 to 18 have been falling through the cracks in the child and family services system. Youth under the age of 19 may not qualify for protection – for example, foster care – yet because they have not reached the age of majority they cannot legally sign a lease or receive income assistance. The department has known about these service gaps but has done little to address them. This situation is unacceptable.

A successful court challenge in 2010 of the Nunavut Child and Family Services Act determined that it discriminated based on age and, therefore, violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This court decision indicates that changes to the Child and Family Services Act of the Northwest Territories are likely required. In the meantime, the department should provide services to youth on the basis of discretionary provisions in the act.

Recommendation 29

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services address gaps in services for youth and make appropriate amendments to the Child and Family Services Act. Performance measures should be included in all departmental business plans to track the number of youth receiving discretionary services and the types of services received.

Mr. Speaker, I would turn the reading of the report for the conclusion to our chair, Mr. Nadli.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Nadli.

Conclusion

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. According to the Auditor General, the department is not adequately meeting its responsibilities under the act. The department does not have an adequate accountability framework in place. Neither the department nor the regional authorities have adequate mechanisms in place to ensure key responsibilities are being met.

Even with a long-standing awareness of such problems, the department has failed an entire

generation of children and families. Since the publication of previous reviews of child and family services in 2000 and 2010, little has been done in the way of systemic analysis or action to address the weaknesses.

Dramatic changes are required. The department must assess resource needs, fix the accountability framework, improve standards and procedures and provide better training to child protection workers.

The committee is encouraged that the Minister accepted the Auditor General’s recommendations and plans to implement them. At the same time, Members are understandably sceptical because of the department’s lacklustre response to earlier reviews of this kind.

In conclusion, the committee reiterates the words of the Auditor General: changes are within the department’s immediate control. The department is at a critical juncture. It must go beyond making minor adjustments and overhaul the system.

Recommendation 30

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the government provide a comprehensive response to this report within 120 days.

That concludes the presentation of our report.

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that Committee Report 6-17(5), Report on the Review of the 2014 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Northwest Territories Child and Family Services, be received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Question has been called. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Committee Report 6-17(5) has been received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration.

Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 7, acknowledgements. Item 8, oral questions. Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back on February 24, 2014, in this House, I spoke to the fact that right now superbugs pose the biggest challenges in our hospitals nationally. In fact, one in 12 patients in a Canadian hospital are infected by superbugs during their stay. Unfortunately, after waiting 94 days for an answer to my tabled written questions from the Department of Health and Social Services, it is clear this department is not concerned about these national statistics or the potential health threat to the residents of the Northwest Territories. My questions will be for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

The fact that this department has almost ignored national alarming statistics on hospital superbug infestation is shameful. Focusing on one matrix, that of only methicillin-resistant strains of Staph A begs to ask the Minister are reporting mechanisms truly in place or do these superbugs fail to cross the 60th parallel, because every other jurisdiction in

Canada faces these threats. So why, Minister, why are we so unique that we don’t see these other prevalent superbugs in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Minister of Health and Social Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Member’s consideration or suggestion that we don’t care or we’re not taking this particularly seriously. I would like to suggest that, in fact, we do take this very seriously and are monitoring where appropriate. I can’t say why there isn’t more prevalence or more indication. We do monitor; we do track. I would also suggest that the Member take a closer look at the report, because we do see increased rates in some of our communities. It just doesn’t happen to be in all of our communities. We are tracking, Mr. Speaker.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

The recently tabled NWT Department of Health and Social Services Annual Report of 2012-2013 lists Methicillin-resistant Staph showing a doubling of incidents in our hospitals in just one calendar year. Plus, a tabled data provided yesterday by the Minister equally echoes regional authorities struggling with huge reporting increases. So, unfortunately, with only one matrix of evaluation which is clearly showing alarming increases in certain regions, what is this Minister doing to mitigate this situation? Thank you.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Minister of Health and Social Services

We’re working with each of the authorities to identify protocols that work within particular jurisdictions. We are working with health professionals; we are working with

individuals who are on the front line who have the best opportunities to provide recommendations on how to address those situations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

I’m not sure if there was a response there, which was totally unfortunate. As I indicated in my Member’s statement on February 24, 2014, our basic defence in superbug control is a more robust and well-funded housekeeping program. Yesterday’s tabled data on the subject fails to address the questions posed some 94 days ago, making this tabled document virtually useless. Mr. Speaker, I cannot express my dismay in such a non-response to a written question. Therefore, I ask the Minister: when can this Member or the people of the Northwest Territories expect the full and complete written reply to my questions on housekeeping cleaning budgets in the Northwest Territories health care facilities? Thank you.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Minister of Health and Social Services

Getting and liking the response are two different things. The Member did get a response. It was full; it was comprehensive. It has the data he asked for. As I’ve indicated, the departments and the authorities do take this issue seriously and we are working with the authorities to come up with methods to address this particular concern and control the spread of these bugs throughout the system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the Minister and I have a different definition of whole and comprehensive. If I was in pre-kindergarten, that would probably be applicable, what I received yesterday. That was not full and comprehensive.

In trying to reflect best practices that we see nationally, can the Minister indicate when we should expect a full, public reporting mechanism that reports all superbug incidents in our in-patient hospitals and a complete public reporting program that evaluates our NWT housekeeping programs? Thank you.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Minister of Health and Social Services

There is a significantly large list of different superbugs that the Member is referring to. There are some that are more common and prevalent than others. According to the information provided, we’ve got incidents that some of the superbugs in our authorities that are non-existent or very, very low, not even at a point where it’s reasonable or possible to collect that data and the more common, prevalent superbugs, and we will continue to report on that and we’re happy to share the information.

Once again, getting and liking the answer are two different things. I believe the answer was comprehensive. I answered the questions the Member did ask. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of ENR some questions with regard to my Member’s statement. Forest fires are common occurrences in the Northwest Territories from May to September and can cause extensive damage, put lives in danger and cause health effects.

I’d like to know what the Department of ENR’s assessment and plan is for this coming fire season in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ve got all the traditional forces together. The fire crews are back on. The fixed-wing resources or assets are there, as are the rotary wing. We have, as well, looked at the meteorological reports. We anticipate, and predictions are, extreme drought in the southern part of the territory, both the South Slave and the Deh Cho. So, we have folks on high alert. We’ve made alternate arrangements for, as well, a DC-6 from Airspray to be available and we will be making use of the MARS agreement, should the need arise over the course of the fire season.

The cool, somewhat damp weather has been a blessing so far, but like everybody else, I watch the weather very carefully and we anticipate that sooner or later the fire season will start up in earnest. Thank you.