Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is the department looking at potentially -- it's 10 years old. Are we looking at this report and maybe updating it to make it more current? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we had the one report done, and it identified a lot of issues that are still relevant today. I don't really see the need to go out and do another report when we know it's basically going to say the same thing that this one is saying. The numbers may have changed a bit, but, I mean, we'll have a review of the report, and we can have a review of it with committee and, if we feel there's a need, to go do another one.

I think at the end of the day, we've had one report done. Why do another one when it's going to tell us the same thing? Let's just try and implement some of the recommendations that came out of this report. That would save us a lot of time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. I have no problem not doing a report, but I guess my struggle is that, if we have these concerns and issues out there and we still haven't implemented them, then have things been implemented, part of this report? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, our struggle is trying to ensure that our communities have the capacity to deal with some of the liabilities that might come with implementing some of these. I would have to go back and review the recommendations to see how many of them have actually been implemented, but this is not something that we could do in one shot. I think we'd have to phase some of the implementation in. I will follow up with the department. I will follow up on the report to see how many of the initiatives, actually, recommendations may have actually been implemented, and then we can have a discussion with committee as to whether we want to look at possibly implementing more of the recommendations and/or go and do another report. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his response. If it is a liability issue of proper training, are we able to work with the municipalities, especially the ones that are on the roads, and maybe find a couple projects, pilot projects, and work with them to get them trained properly so that they can address the two big issues of liability issues and proper training, because, instead of reducing the money right now? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, as I responded before, we have worked with the DOT to provide some first responder. If it's more technical training, if they have, the community has, individuals that they identify that may want to take some training to be able to be first responders, then, you know, the community can make that decision or the individual can make that decision to go get further training.

Through our partnership with the DOT, we try to provide some first responder training, again so we can have the folks qualified to respond to any incidents that might happen without fearing the liability. Then we will continue to work on getting as many people in the community trained as possible, and then we can determine next steps after that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Anything further? Mr. Thompson.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that answer, and I fully agree that we need to get people trained. I'm just a little confused about how communities can take the $40,000, apply for it, and then bank it to purchase equipment later on. Because we're talking about building capacity in this area, so I'm just trying to understand how that is possible. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the communities are aware that they can apply for this money and they can bank it. I mean, our staff give annual updates at the NWTAC AGM, and they work closely with the communities. So communities are well aware of some of the options that are available to them. Again, we'll go back to working to build the capacity and the expertise and having our communities respond to emergencies.

The answer to the Member's question is the communities are aware of the options that are available to them. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions on this page.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I've been listening to the discussion here. To me, so we've got a 2006 report. I'm not sure if all of the recommendations followed up. There's an amount of funding here that is made available to build capacity for these services. There's a cap of $40,000 a year for applications. Maybe the problem is with the cap. I don't know how often the cap has been reconsidered, but there seems to be a problem here with the program, itself. Reducing the amount of money that's available does not seem to be addressing the need that's out there.

So I guess what I'm looking for is a commitment that the Minister is going to come to the committee, look at this issue, and try to find a solution. I don't think cutting money is the solution that people are looking for. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I mean, there is a reduction in this because, as I said before, it's a program that's not fully subscribed to. We'll have to try and address that and build capacity, so those. Then, in future, if there is a need to enhance the $185,000, then we'll consider it at the time. I mean, we're basing this reduction on the uptake of this program and the communities' recognition that, once they get certified or they're able to be first responders, then there's going to be more demand on this.

The priority right now is to ensure that our communities are trained and are able to respond to any emergencies without fearing the liability that might come with it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair, I appreciate that. I guess I'll just reiterate. I think the problem is with the design of the program. If there's a $40,000 cap and it's not fully subscribed, there's a need there, the problem is with the design of the program. I'm just asking if the Minister will come to committee and try to work out a way to improve the services and redesign the program.