August 19, 2011 - The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs Robert McLeod congratulates the communities of Fort Smith and Déline for performing admirably during their emergency situations this past year. The minister emphasizes how important it is to have trained people in the communities to deal with these types of emergency situations: knowing what to do will save lives.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak about the importance of community emergency training and preparedness.

In June, the Town of Fort Smith was threatened by extreme fire conditions which resulted in heavy smoke and a considerable risk to the community. Several residents were evacuated until the risk passed. In July, forest fires located close to the Charter Community of Déline resulted in the evacuation of 108 residents. Both events required emergency management officials to implement measures designed to protect the safety of residents and prepare for the worst.

Thankfully these events did not result in wide-spread damage but they do offer a good reminder of how a disaster can strike at any time. In the Northwest Territories, forest fires and floods occur regularly and can easily test a community’s ability to respond.

Several months ago, community emergency management officials from Déline and Fort Smith participated in training on the basic concepts of emergency management. This training provides the skills to effectively prepare for, and respond to, all types of emergencies. Understanding the framework of emergency management, along with accepted common response protocols in use across the Northwest Territories, greatly increases the timeliness and effectiveness of response to an emergency.

This training was put into practice in June and July, with a high degree of efficiency and effectiveness by community emergency management officials in Déline and Fort Smith.

Mr. Speaker, there is a wide variety of situations and factors which can cause a disaster in a community. Communities in the Northwest Territories may be particularly vulnerable due to the potential impacts of climate change. In coastal communities, preparation for storms and flooding may be more necessary, while in southern regions, the frequency of forest fires may increase.

Municipal and Community Affairs is working with communities and partners to guide the development and delivery of quality training opportunities to improve the safety of residents, and to respond to disasters in an appropriate and effective manner. This includes efforts to improve community capacity to undertake emergency management activities and to support communities in their emergency planning efforts.

Mr. Speaker, with the recent fire events in Déline and Fort Smith, we are reminded of how important it is for communities to be prepared to respond to emergencies, and MACA remains committed to working to advance the 16th Legislative Assembly’s goal of sustainable, vibrant and safe communities in the NWT.

I invite my colleagues to join me in congratulating the communities of Déline and Fort Smith for their effort in preparing for disaster and working together to protect the safety of their residents.

Thank you.