Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, Mr. Chair, I am here to introduce Bill 8, Emergency Management Act. I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Government Operations for their review of this bill.

The purpose of the Emergency Management Act is to repeal and replace the Civil Emergency Measures Act. The act defines the roles and responsibilities of local authorities and the Government of the Northwest Territories in planning for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies.

The proposed amendments permit us to effectively modernize emergency management arrangements for the Northwest Territories, and they establish a dedicated public body to lead the coordination of activities of the Government of the Northwest Territories regarding emergency management.

The bill increases the discretion of community governments to organize and prepare for emergencies. It also clarifies the responsibilities of community governments in meeting the needs of residents during emergencies.

Search and rescue volunteers will now receive protection for the important work that they do in helping to keep residents safe in a part of Canada that is both rugged and remote. Much work also has been completed to update the Northwest Territories Emergency Plan, which is an important instrument used to operationalize the act.

Preparations and capacity building have been under way for some time, and the department is prepared to communicate our new direction to residents, community governments, and emergency management partners.

That concludes my opening remarks, and I would be pleased to answer any questions that the Members may have regarding Bill 8. Thank you, Mr. Chair.