Ronald Bonnetrouge

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Yeah, I don't have a lot of questions on there that other Members haven't touched upon. So I'll pass this time, and I will take it up hopefully in the next sitting. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Madam Chair. I'd first like to sympathize with all the residents of the Northwest Territories that were uprooted from their communities, their homes, and their communities and who are all down south, and many who are still struggling because of the lack of supports, financial supports from our government. And it's fair enough that, you know, we're hearing that we don't have the financial resources to cover everyone. My colleague from Hay River South, you know, mentioned, you know, some significant amounts, and I feel that it's only fair for our residents for the, you know, amount of...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain if it is possible for an individual to have the expiry date for their safety certificates extended beyond the expiry date without having to retake a course? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are related to my Member's statement on the trades’ safety tickets and their expiry dates.

Can the Minister responsible for Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission explain what organization or regulating bodies determine how long a certification is valid for and is there a rationale provided for that length of time? As a hypothetical example, why would chain saw safety be valid for three years, and another safety certificate be valid for five years? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when one takes a chain saw safety training course, you learn the safety aspects surrounding the use of the chain saw. You learn to fall the tree safely, when to use emergency chain lock, using Teflon chaps, safety glasses, and a helmet. So the next time you take the course three years later, it is all the same. The same thing with taking fall arrest training, elevated work platform training, confined spaces training, and first aid.

Can the Minister engage WSCC to look into removing the expiry dates for all safety tickets? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is what role does Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission have in ensuring that safety certification expiry dates reflect the unique context of the NWT, including small communities? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak about skilled trades safety certifications. This is a topic I hear about frequently from my constituents and employers. The skilled trades and construction work come under a number of safety hazards that could be seriously harmful. Employers like local construction companies look for and often require specific safety certifications to hire employees. Generally, training for safety certifications provides knowledge of basic procedures and processes to ensure that an individual can competently and safely perform a work duty or activity. For...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister for that answer. Numerous times I've asked the department to send their expertise, their staff into the communities and, you know, to get out of Yellowknife, not just sitting on their thrones here. And you know, they really need to get out there because we get changeover in rec directors in our small communities and they've got limited training and everything. So they really need that extra assistance.

Mr. Speaker, the Yukon seems to host large events such as the Canada Winter Games, the world men's fastball and world junior men's fastball...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi to the Minister for that. In my statement, I also referenced another article. The executive director of Sport North was interviewed and stated that they didn't track the athletes' ethnicities so therefore, they did not know the number of Indigenous athletes. Does the Minister find that concerning given that the NWT is home to about 50 percent of Indigenous peoples? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have spoken many times throughout this Assembly about the importance of sports and recreation in the lives of youth, especially in small communities. Today I want to continue speaking on that issue.

Mr. Speaker, according to a recent article from CKLB News, there were 101 athletes from the NWT who attended the Canada Winter Games in PEI between February and March. And of those athletes whose home communities are publicly available, 71 percent of them are from Yellowknife.

Now in a territory with 33 communities, does that situation seem fair to you, Mr. Speaker...