Bob McLeod

I would just like to confirm for the Members that between January 1st and December 31, 2013, there were 1,605 public service appointments. One hundred three of these, or 6.4 percent, were by direct appointment. Affirmative action candidates make up 67 percent of direct appointments in 2013. Graduate nurses, social workers, interns and teachers constitute 15 percent of all direct appointments.

As the Member indicates, direct appointments are only one tool. It is a very rigorous process it goes through. All of our deputy ministers have been delegated staffing authority and in order to get a...

Mr. Speaker, I have a tendency to be optimistic, so I will say that we will be able to respond before the end of this session. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, human resources, all of our employees are our most valuable asset and we are very proud of all of our employees. I have already answered his question and the answer is no. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Direct appointments have been a management tool for this government ever since this government has been in place. On every occasion, a direct appointment is a benefit to the government and it is provided for through appropriate legislation and we will continue to use that practice.

The Member complains that we don’t have positions filled. We’re trying to fill positions and now he doesn’t want us to fill positions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The Member is quoting the list that he’s holding in his hand as part of the Devolution Agreement was correct and it had a qualifier on there that this was not the finalized list that will be finalized before April 1, 2014. We’re being very transparent, and subject to confidentiality requirements, we’ll be as transparent as this government has always been. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don’t think setting up an Intergovernmental Council is going to change any constitution or any construct. Members here represent all of the people in the Northwest Territories and, as I said, with the legislation that would set up the Intergovernmental Council. I would welcome input from the Members as to providing input to us in terms of our participation with the Intergovernmental Council. Thank you.

The list that has been identified are those that have securities, proper securities. There are some sites that are very small in nature or have no identifiable contamination that are part of that list that the Member is referring to. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is something that has been negotiated with the Aboriginal governments and we’ve also provided regular briefings to the Members. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The answer is no. It will be strictly a function of land management/land administration and how we can work together to improve how we can both look after the lands. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

That’s correct.