Shane Thompson

Every year, our department works with our firefighters to get there, but I think maybe the Member is talking about the facility itself. With the facility itself, there was a planning study done and a design in place, and a new facility has been identified, where the land is going to be, so there are drawings and there is a plan in place right now.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. The wildfire season this year is off to a slow start thanks to cooler temperatures in May, right across the territory. It has only been in the last week or so that things are finally starting to warm up. Hot weather is predicted through June and July, with temperatures well above normal. These are prime conditions for wildfires.

As of this week, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has responded to one wildfire in the Northwest Territories. This fire is suspected to be human-caused and is under investigation. Mr. Speaker, it is critical that residents...

When it comes to surveying lands, it is actually the municipality's responsibility, not the department's. I am hoping that, within three years, it will be done, but again, it's about people working together. If they are not going to be able to work together, that is our challenge. Right now, from my understanding in talking with the YK Dene chiefs and the Mayor of Yellowknife, people are working together. They are working to come up with an agreement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have said in the House here before, we are working with Indigenous governments in the City of Yellowknife to move the process forward. We have had a number of meetings, and we are trying to work with them to come up with a process that works for everybody involved, including the City of Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I guess I should clarify. They do do weekends, but right now, we aren't because we're in a new environment. The campgrounds that are going on right now, freelance and that, we are working on that. We are looking at that situation. We do have our bear line up. We have our fire line up. We have those things there. As for the sewers and that, we have to work across departments. As the Minister for ITI spoke about, we have people who are cross-trained. We work together with these matters.

Again, we are asking the public to bring it forward to us if we have concerns. We...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for her question. The department does go out there and inspect various campsites and that. Unfortunately, right now, campsites are closed right now, so we have actually asked the public to advise us of situations so that we are aware of them and so that we can send staff out there to make sure that they are following the guidelines that we set out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

From my understanding, there have not been any conversations yet with the North Slave Metis, but we will confirm with the department and the city and get back to the Member. Thank you.

Both. The City of Yellowknife needs to work with Indigenous governments, but we also need to work with Indigenous governments and the City of Yellowknife right now. We are working together. We are having numerous meetings; we are collaborating; we are having these conversations. Again, it's about people working together. We are trying to do what's right in a timely manner. I know it seems to be drawn out, but we are working together, and we have had a number of meetings.

As for follow-up, I know that the department is listening to us right now. Within five days, I am hoping to have that answer, if not sooner. Thank you, Madam -- Mr. Speaker.

We actually do get out there with the town people, being fire smart, being safe, looking out for the environment, don't feed bears, and stuff like that. Again, what we are trying to do is, because we are in a new environment, we do have stuff out there, but we don't have them out there on the weekends right now. We will look into this matter, and we will advise the public what we are going to be doing moving forward. Right now, we rely on the public because we are asking them to advise us of situations so that we can help them move forward. Wearing my other hat with the Minister of Lands, we...