During a public ministerial briefing at the standing committee on accountability and oversight, Northwest Territories (N.W.T.) Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) closely scrutinized officials from the territory’s municipal and community affairs department on the latest updates to its emergency plan. The territorial government had released updates to its plan on Monday, intending it to serve as a comprehensive document outlining the emergency management framework in the N.W.T. and the responsibilities of various entities. However, concerns were raised by MLA Shauna Morgan, who expressed alarm at the lack of clarity and assurance provided by the revised plan. “It seems the objective of the updates was to provide clarity and assurance, but to me, the plan isn’t clear at all,” Morgan stated. She highlighted that the plan does not provide clear guidance for residents to prepare for emergencies, leaving them without a sense of preparedness. Additionally, Morgan emphasized the need to acknowledge the unique role that Yellowknife plays as a hub for nearby communities during evacuations, a factor that the revised plan does not adequately address. Morgan also expressed concerns about the assumption that all local authorities have equal capabilities in handling emergencies, pointing out that some municipalities may require additional support. MLA Richard Edjericon also raised concerns about the absence of a fire plan in Fort Resolution, which has been under third-party management for approximately a year. Despite requests, Edjericon stated that he had not yet received a fire plan from the territorial government. Sonya Saunders, the assistant deputy minister of municipal and community affairs, responded by indicating that a community meeting would be scheduled soon in Fort Resolution to provide an update on the matter. She mentioned that significant fire breaks had been established around the community, but further details on the emergency plan would be shared at the meeting. MLA Richard Hawkins echoed the concerns of his colleagues, questioning the role of MACA in assisting communities with emergency plan development. Currently, MACA lacks the authority under the Emergency Management Act to mandate the content or structure of community emergency plans. The department offers a template with suggested sections and facilitates workshops to guide communities in creating their plans. Despite these efforts, Hawkins expressed dissatisfaction with the process, suggesting that it may absolve MACA of some level of responsibility in ensuring effective emergency preparedness. Despite assurances from Minister Vince McKay that communities are ready to handle emergencies, MLAs maintained their concerns about the clarity and effectiveness of the updated emergency plan. They emphasized the need for greater clarity and support for local authorities to ensure that communities are adequately prepared to respond to emergencies.
N.W.T. MLAs Criticize Updated Emergency Plan, Express Concerns About Clarity and Local Responsibilities
