Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to support this motion. And, in the words of the late and legendary Cece McCauley, build the damn road.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that. Will the Minister -- another issue is hotel capacity. We're often over -- sorry, often overcapacity -- we're nearly always overcapacity with our hotel command, and it's increasing year after year. So what is the Minister doing working with her Cabinet colleagues to ensure there are incentives for hospitality -- for the hospitality industry to grow? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I spoke about the challenges the tourism industry is facing in the Northwest Territories. How is the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment going to partner with tourism operators who are struggling to provide access to remote lodges and campsites that are only accessible by boat or float plane now that water levels are historically low and rendering docks and piers useless? Thank you.

To the motion as amended, yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think we will have to wait for the afteraction review to come forward, and then we'll have more comprehensive recommendations on how we can improve the operation of the emergency management system, inquiry or not, I think everyone supports that exercise, and it's something that we're looking forward to seeing come forward.

Yesterday I raised the issue of requiring, through regulation, that emergency management organizations follow a common system of command and control. These are the kind of things that the department could offer...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this report was commissioned by the GNWT and was completed and hasn't been implemented. So can the Premier commit to an implementation schedule that will be costed and released publicly so we can know when these necessary lifesaving changes to search and rescue will take effect? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Premier commit to supporting programming such as Adventure Smart, which teaches Northerners to be prepared and self-sufficient when they journey onto the land or water and partner with NWT businesses, as well as federal, territorial, and municipal departments that operate in the territory's natural environment? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, in a land as vast and untamed as the Northwest Territories, ground search and rescue services are key to any emergency where persons are missing or in distress on land or inland waterways. Ground search and rescue efforts are multi-jurisdictional, relying on cooperation from many different governments, agencies, and civilians, so that trained professionals, often in volunteer capacities, can be properly equipped and dispatched to get to work saving lives.

There are many reasons why people go missing or end up needing help on the land every year. Many travel long distances in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to request a recorded vote.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to rise in support of this motion and to second it. I think there's an interesting debate going on, as my colleague alluded to, in the Northwest Territories right now of how best to resolve the increasing rates of crime in our communities and addictions and substance abuse. And I think, unfortunately, this discussion turns into a binary of either you support more policing, or you support more addictions, and you can't do both at the same time. And I think you can -- I know because I certainly do, and speaking with our police services as well they certainly...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Premier. Will the Premier allocate funding directly to the training of professional ground search and rescue volunteers with accountability built in to ensure they're being trained to current national standards as recommended by the report? Thank you.