Question Period (13 May 2025)

From Hansard (13 May 2025)

To view this section on video, click here and start play at 2:34:15 PM.

Consultation on Bill 21

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now yesterday the Minister of Government Relations would not answer any of my questions in committee on Bill 21. Now you can look this up in Hansard on page 109, Mr. Speaker, but apparently he is “absolutely unqualified” to answer them.

Now Bill 21 would have volunteer firefighters burn down dilapidated buildings in our communities. These buildings do pose a serious problem that municipalities need support dealing with. But if we want to address this problem, it needs to be done responsibly and after thorough consultation.

So to the Minister of Environment: can he guarantee the safety of firefighters and Saskatchewan communities if this bill is passed?

Hon. Travis Keisig: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank the member opposite for the question. I can definitely guarantee that consultations will be ongoing throughout the summer. We are going to work together with all of our partners, SARM [Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities] and SUMA [Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association] that bring this to the table.

This is a voluntary program, Mr. Speaker, and there’s some communities are going to be very excited to partake in it. There’s some volunteer fire departments that are very excited to partake in it, and there’s some that aren’t going to have an interest in it. And that’s fine, Mr. Speaker. All we’re doing as a government is providing communities with a framework to allow them to provide a training scenario for their world-class volunteer fire departments, Mr. Speaker, and that’s one thing we’re always going to be on the side of. Thank you.

 

Jared Clarke: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now I have been listening to municipalities and firefighters since this pilot project was announced a few months ago. This government has not consulted with firefighters about the pilot, and these are the folks that are going to be on the front lines of burning these buildings down.

Firefighters are concerned about the health and safety of their members and that of their communities if this bill passes. Now to quote the president of the volunteer firefighters association, “Government has been advocating to keep our firefighters safe from unnecessary exposure to cancer-causing toxins, and this proposed legislation flies in the face of that.”

Asbestos, lead paint, asphalt shingles — these are all very real hazards facing firefighters. Will the minister listen to firefighters and scrap this dangerous bill?

Hon. Travis Keisig: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are definitely going to continue the consultation process. It’s ongoing, and it’s going to be consulted over the summer, Mr. Speaker. And if the members opposite . . .

[Interjections]

Speaker Goudy: — Order, please.

Hon. Travis Keisig: — The members opposite are very concerned and reading quotes into the record, Mr. Speaker. I mean, that’s not a challenge.

So I’m going to read a quote into the Hansard, Mr. Speaker:

The derelict building pilot program is going to be a valuable tool for smaller rural departments to properly train new recruits, as well as veteran firefighters, in offensive firefighting in a controlled environment.

That is coming from the fire chief of the community of Strasbourg, which I have the honour to represent, Mr. Speaker.

This is going to be an ongoing process, Mr. Speaker. Consultations are going to carry on. Thank you.

 

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