Fort Resolution is still without a functional fire department, according to Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh MLA Richard Edjericon.
Edjericon brought attention to the matter during the Feb. 8 session of the legislative assembly. In the process, he noted repeatedly that the community of about 500 people has been governed by a GNWT-appointed administrator since the local hamlet council was dissolved by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) last June.
The change came amid concerns of SA国际影视传媒渕ismanagement,SA国际影视传媒� but Edjericon attributed it to a SA国际影视传媒渕odern-day colonial type of attitudeSA国际影视传媒� that makes residents feel SA国际影视传媒減unished.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淣ow the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 officially responsible for our Fort Resolution government,SA国际影视传媒� the MLA said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey canSA国际影视传媒檛 ignore the serious lack of services the community struggles with.
SA国际影视传媒淥ne of the most urgent services they lack is a fire department. Long before Fort Resolution council was dissolved, it became clear that the fire department was in jeopardy. The situation was left to spiral out of control until the fire department was hit with a mass resignation. Today, they only have the bare minimum protection for fire and all they can manage is a preventative approach. A preventative approach is a polite way of saying the community of Fort Resolution is unable to respond to a serious fire. Their community is totally unprotected from that threat.SA国际影视传媒�
Edjericon later revealed that, on Jan. 9, Fort Resolution experienced a SA国际影视传媒渟erious house fire.SA国际影视传媒�
He called for MACA Minister Vince McKay to lead the creation of a volunteer fire department, emphasizing the importance of collaborating with Fort Resolution Chief Louis Balsillie as well as the Fort Resolution M茅tis Government on the matter.
In response, McKay pledged MACASA国际影视传媒檚 full support, but contended that SA国际影视传媒渢hereSA国际影视传媒檚 obviously a concern of commitment from community members,SA国际影视传媒� as SA国际影视传媒渧olunteerism is down everywhereSA国际影视传媒� in the NWT.
SA国际影视传媒淚t is a commitment that community members need to also step up and volunteer, and I hope for the sake of the community that local community members step up and put their name in to help out the community with volunteerism on the fire department,SA国际影视传媒� the minister said.
Edjericon later drew attention to the upcoming fire season, which last year devastated communities across the territory. He called for MACASA国际影视传媒檚 support in creating a SA国际影视传媒渇ire planSA国际影视传媒� to prepare for the season, once again urging collaboration with the local chief, council and M茅tis government.
In response, McKay contended that MACASA国际影视传媒檚 administrator is already working on a fire plan, which should be SA国际影视传媒渇inished off shortly.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e working with community members, including the Indigenous governments in the community to make sure this plan is up to date. ISA国际影视传媒檓 also aware that they completed some Cat guard work within the community. I believe it was the end of December that it was completed,SA国际影视传媒� McKay said of heavy equipment clearing away stretches of trees and brush.
SA国际影视传媒淭here is a commitment to complete that and get that done before the upcoming season.SA国际影视传媒�
When reached by SA国际影视传媒, Edjericon agreed to schedule a follow-up interview on the subject of Fort ResolutionSA国际影视传媒檚 fire department, but then did not respond again by phone or email.
Balsillie also could not be reached for comment on the matter.
Arthur Beck, the president of the Fort Resolution M茅tis Government, answered the phone but stated he SA国际影视传媒渄oesnSA国际影视传媒檛 know muchSA国际影视传媒� about the fire department.
