Yellowknife, NWT – Two Yellowknife MLA’s have now weighed in on the territorial government’s decision to not have lifeguards at beaches in Yellowknife and Hay River this summer.
Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister David Ramsay announced Wednesday there will be waterfront attendants at the beach at Fred Henne Park and in Hay River, but no lifeguards.
We asked the Member for Frame Lake, Wendy Bisaro, for her reaction.
“I think it’s a compromise. I think it’s middle ground and I think it’s a good first step. If we can get through this summer with attendants, we can do an assessment of what worked and what didn’t. It also gives us more time to think about the impact of having lifeguards.”
Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins was less diplomatic in his response.
“If they really wanted lifeguards there they would’ve found a way to do it and they wouldn’t have waited so late in the season to address this. The minister standing behind the study isn’t displaying leadership, this is about finding an option that gets him out of trouble.”
Ramsay says waterfront attendants will make the beach safer.
He’s also encouraging parents to educate their kids about water safety, and if they’re under 10, keep them within arm’s reach when they are in the water.
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