Vince McKay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would assume that the point they were trying to get across is that if you were looking for help, you could go anywhere that provides the help, like the emergency department, RCMP detachment, or the fire service in your communities to get the help that you need. You know, when the NorthwesTel takes out these lines for their modernization of equipment, it's kind of out of our hands so, you know, they're -- what could be put in place, something we could look into but at the present time, when they take out these services, it knocks down all of our communication. So that...

Mr. Speaker, this week from June 4th to 6th, Hay River transforms from a quiet northern town to the Olympic Village of the Northwest Territories. Yes, it's that time again for the Annual NWT Track and Field Championships. If you're from Hay River, you know how significant this event is and how deeply the community is involved. It takes hundreds of volunteer hours and advanced dedication to put this together. The community's commitment will be ready to shine when over a thousand athletes show up to compete. If you're an athlete that's been involved for over 30 years, you likely have fond...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 47-20(1), State of Emergency for Humanitarian Reasons for Norman Wells. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back in the day, pre-cell phones and phones and everything else, we used smoke signals. No, we would have to go back, honestly, and look and find out from the other agencies, like in Alberta, what they do and how they layer their systems in order to have backups in their systems. So I'll ask the department to see what other jurisdictional scans we can do to see how we can backup our systems when our main telecommunications system is out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I feel you stole my list. I want to echo the recognition of visitors in the gallery, same people there, but I would also like to add the YK city councillor Tom McLennan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide an update on marine transportation service operation for the 2025 sailing season. Every spring, residents and businesses across the territory are eager to plan shipments for their essential goods and equipment by our barges along the Mackenzie River, Great Slave Lake, and all the communities in the Western Arctic.

As people are aware, in 2024 marine transportation services operations were affected by record low water levels. This created unnavigable conditions along the Mackenzie River and presented a challenge to the Canadian Coast Guard, who were unable to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a member -- an active member of a volunteer ambulance service that was pretty busy back in the day, you know, I was able to form many relationships with doctors and nurses currently in the territories, around the territories, and throughout Canada. You know, I do appreciate the work that's been done to this; however, I do feel for me, it's very Yellowknife focused and very focused on what the issues are in Yellowknife where, for me, if we took care of our regions, if we took care of our communities, the strain on Yellowknife would not be as much as it is. And we not...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for the Sahtu, that Bill 17, Municipal and Community Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, be read for the third time. And, Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. With me, I have Catherine Boyd, director of corporate services. And Ryan Semak, senior legislation advisor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm pleased to present Bill 17, Municipal and Community Affairs Statutes Amendment Act.

Bill 17 amends three Acts: The Fire Prevention Act, the NWT 9-1-1 Act, and the Western Canada Lottery Act. The purpose of the bill is to adjust the reporting timelines required under the three Acts to provide sufficient time for MACA to collect and the data from various sources to ensure accurate and comprehensive reporting.

This Bill amends the Fire Prevention Act reporting period for the fire marshal's report to the Minister to reflect the fiscal year and to have the report due to the...