Bob Bromley

Just looking outside, we’re right along on our spring. I’d say it’s almost summer. Last year I believe ENR hired about 40 students. I know students have been out of school for some time. They’re waiting desperately to hear. Will the Minister commit to hiring at least 40 students, as he did last year, again this year and get word to them quickly?

Thanks for the comments from the Minister. It sounds like that’s going to at least take care of the alligators that are latched onto their ankles right now and I appreciate that action. It seems from this that the government is, indeed, going to take full advantage of the programs and services available through the Smart Communities Society. But for the full benefit of all the people in all the communities in the Northwest Territories, considerable work remains to be done, and I’m assuming from this action that the government agrees with this, so I’m wondering what action is proposed, what...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a couple of residents of Weledeh: Barb Hood and Bob Stevens.

I do notice that the budget is up for ENR this year compared to last, so I’m hoping the Minister will confirm that means we’ll be hiring at least 40, and probably more students. I am concerned about the concept of challenge and accountability, because I have information from constituents indicating that in some cases equally qualified people have lost out to people with lower priority status. I’m wondering in ENR if there’s apparently no public listing of what jobs were on offer, how can applicants know whether their priority status was honoured when job offers were made in the department.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources on summer students. I’m concerned about the transparency and efficiency of the summer student hiring process and I’m wondering if ENR puts out a file of the positions that they have identified, presumably, as I understand it, in December on the positions that are available for students so that they can underscore the credentials that they have towards those specific summer student positions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Reluctantly, I’d like to go for supper, but my question is for the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment. I’d like to note that Yellowknife Members recently met with representatives of the Smart Communities Society of the Northwest Territories and learned about the issues that they are facing and some of the risks involved with those issues. Could the Minister inform the House on what action this government has taken to strengthen the relationship between the GNWT and the Smart Communities Society of the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently I attended the two-day conference on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation sponsored by the NWT Association of Communities, Pembina Institute, and Ecology North. I salute that expression of the sense of urgency civil society places upon climate change action and the support NWTAC received from government departments.

I also attended a local consultation on a new Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy. Attended by a small but dedicated crowd, the meeting spent considerable precious time dwelling on highly outdated goals and objectives of the old plan. Subsequent...

I do notice that the budget is up for ENR this year compared to last, so I’m hoping the Minister will confirm that means we’ll be hiring at least 40, and probably more students. I am concerned about the concept of challenge and accountability, because I have information from constituents indicating that in some cases equally qualified people have lost out to people with lower priority status. I’m wondering in ENR if there’s apparently no public listing of what jobs were on offer, how can applicants know whether their priority status was honoured when job offers were made in the department.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources on summer students. I’m concerned about the transparency and efficiency of the summer student hiring process and I’m wondering if ENR puts out a file of the positions that they have identified, presumably, as I understand it, in December on the positions that are available for students so that they can underscore the credentials that they have towards those specific summer student positions.

Thank you. Is committee agreed that Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, is ready for third reading? Agreed?

---Bill 11 as a whole approved for third reading