Jackie Jacobson

Considering our volunteer firefighters, Mr. Speaker, are risking their lives to service and protecting our communities, will this government implement a comprehensive checklist of systems like the Minister is saying such as proper valves are functioning, breathing apparatuses, heated fire truck facilities, proper safety gear and training will be listed on the checklist? I think the best place to get the training would be down here in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Considering all the small, remote communities are most sus, sus --

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank all our hardworking Pages over the past week, especially my two Pages from my hometown of Tuktoyaktuk: Melody Teddy and Theresa Cockney. Thank you for all your hard work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past summer we had a fire up in Tuk, a dump fire. We had volunteers going out there, chemicals burning, breathing apparatuses were insufficient because they were cracking at the seams of the masks. Your bunker gear, it’s just right worn out. I know that he’s saying it’s the responsibility of the community, but I think the fire marshal’s office... It’s been nine months I’ve been asking this to happen. Should it take nine months for a person to jump on a plane and hit the communities and go check? Mr. Speaker, all I’m asking is the government try to commit extra...

Yeah, susceptible -- through these house fires and the highest number of deaths per capita over Canada, will this government work with the local fire marshal’s office and various funding sources to develop a real capacity for each community all over the Northwest Territories, not just Nunakput? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement was on the inadequacy of fire equipment in the communities. Mr. Speaker, considering that the communities have inadequate community infrastructure, they need a complete overhaul. Considering the cost to upgrade them, even a fraction of southern standards is very costly. Will the government commit in replacing all inadequate equipment by the end of this government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’m speaking on the firefighting equipment in the communities. Per capita the Northwest Territories has one of the highest rates of fire-related disasters that occur in small, remote communities. The remote fly-in communities with equipment to fight fires is seriously deficient.

Recently I received a response from Municipal and Community Affairs, the Honourable Robert McLeod, commenting that the territorial fire marshal’s office is planning to conduct a community fire department capacity assessment. Today is October 29th. February 9th was the first time I brought...

Just in regard to that, I see on the capital plan that we have for the upcoming season, that you have some communities with five duplexes being built. Sorry, six duplexes being built. With the community of Sachs Harbour, the assessment that was done to the community I think that was not accurate. We have young families growing up needing places to stay and I think this unit, if we could get a four-plex into the community sooner rather than later, what are the chances of getting a four-plex put on this year’s business plan?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank my colleagues for all their comments and support given to this motion. Mr. Speaker, if Cabinet adopts this motion, we together could make a real change for the people that we represent. Today I ask for a recorded vote. Thank you.

My motion today is flexible transition period to rent adjustments.

WHEREAS adequate and affordable housing is the most important concern of many Northerners;

AND WHEREAS one of our collective goals is to develop homeownership and financial management skills of tenants without resorting to evictions and other drastic collections actions;

AND WHEREAS housing subsidy programs should be structured so that employment opportunities, even short-term opportunities, remain an attractive option for tenants;

AND WHEREAS the program guidelines currently require immediate increase in rent for tenants who earn...