Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions will be directed to the Minister of ECC with respect to encampments. There was a press release -- I'll get everyone to go to the Wiki page to find out who he is. He doesn't get a lot of questions here. So I want to see him rise here; I know he'll do a good job.
Good point, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there was a press release on May 25th of this year, talked about encampments, basically there they are, talked about inspections. I want to know what ECC is doing about inspecting these encampments to make sure they comply as the rules, such as the safety, proper use of public lands, complying with fire and waste safe guidelines. That falls under his purview and stewardship. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of ECC.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of ECC does have officers that will do paroles to ensure that when requested that if there's a site that specifically has a potential issue and they're asked to do an inspection, they will gladly go and do that inspection. If there are issues that seem to be evident at the site, they will attempt to work with the folks that are there and resolve those and, if required, there are other legal avenues that could be pursued to come to a resolution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with respect to inspections, it sounds like they don't happen, or they may happen sparsely. We've now had two encampment problems that had serious fires, and recently, as I pointed out, even today I saw piles of propane tanks. What does it take to have daily inspections from this department to ensure that they're safe on public lands, to make sure that they meet the guidelines highlighted in the press release on May 25th? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, so the encampments within the boundaries of the city are also partially a responsibility of the city, and there are certain bylaws that happen within the city that are relevant to the city that would need to also be adhered to. Environment and Climate Change officers look specifically to the areas in which are under our purview. And certainly these periodic inspections are just that, they're periodic, and it's not the intent of the department to be doing daily inspections to a point where it's harassment type of activity. So, you know, we engage when required and try and ensure that, you know, we're doing that in a respectful manner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of ECC. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe I've sent this Minister directly concerns under his justice portfolio hat of the encampment downtown and causing concerns. There's even pictures out there of piles of jerry cans sitting there. Mr. Speaker, what does it take for this Minister to get over there and inspect these encampments? If we're going to allow them to happen, to ensure that they're safe so that no one dies in this situation. Because that's the last thing we want, and it'll be such an impossible situation to take back. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the direct inspections and addressing of these things are done by the officers on the ground who have a mandate to do such work. As Minister of Justice, it's not my mandate. I certainly do have regular conversations with the folks at justice, you know, to ensure that we are considering these, but, once again, those things fall directly under the specific agency or department that have the mandate to enforce that, and I do not directly involve myself with the enforcement part of that work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of ECC. Oral questions. Member from Great Slave.
