Government of Yukon
Archives
FOR RELEASE #06-062
March 23, 2006
Yukon Invests In Emergency Responders And Safer Communities
WHITEHORSE – Community Services Minister Glenn Hart has announced forthcoming investments in Yukon's emergency response capacity pending the approval of the 2006-07 capital budget while highlighting the important contributions emergency responders make to our communities.
"In times of crisis we rely on these men and women to come to our aid and deal with whatever is threatening our safety," Hart said. "This government is ensuring the safety of our responders through investments in their personal safety equipment such as turn out gear, protective breathing apparatus and their on-going training."
The Protective Services branch has identified a wide range of capital investments within the 2006-07 budget term including: upgrades for volunteer fire halls; new fire tanker trucks and other suppression apparatus; rescue boats; emergency communications equipment; turn-out gear and breathing apparatus for firefighters.
Over and above the investments to the responders' safety equipment, Protective Services is also assisting the Village of Teslin in the purchase of a new Hazmat Truck for responding to highway accidents with the Jaws of Life, and responding to spills and similar highway emergencies.
Capital spending will continue the program to upgrade fire engines, fire tanker trucks and the fire halls. This year the Golden Horn Volunteer Fire Department will benefit from design work to replace or upgrade their existing fire hall. In Carcross, work will commence to design an addition, with renovations to the old Yukon government grader station, which is now being used as the Carcross fire hall.
"Since Protective Services branch was formed following devolution, we have taken every opportunity to make strategic investments towards keeping Yukon communities safe," Hart said. "The benefit of having Wildland Fire, the community fire departments and the Yukon Emergency Measures Organization under one roof, so to speak, is that we are maximizing not only the capital budget investments, but also our capacity to respond to emergency events more effectively."
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| Contact: Peter Carr Cabinet Communications Advisor (867) 667-8688 peter.carr@gov.yk.ca |
Doug Caldwell Communications, Community Services (867) 667-8065 doug.caldwell@gov.yk.ca |