Bob McLeod

Thank you, and it’s our intention to do so. We’re starting in a number of regions where we’ll be piloting programs and we will definitely be going to the committee for feedback and information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The traditional economy is a critical component of the Northwest Territories economy. For many community residents these activities are not only a traditional way of life but a matter of necessity.

The traditional economy has sustained the Aboriginal people of the Northwest Territories for thousands of years, providing food, clothing, shelter, tools and goods for trade. The Government of the Northwest Territories recognizes both the economic value and inherent challenges in traditional harvesting. The government is taking action to ensure traditional economy practices...

Mr. Speaker, perhaps I can speak to the Member to get more information about the detail. In the past we have had difficulty in getting this type of information because a lot of the people that would provide it were questioning what that information was going to be used for. There are some concerns whether it could be used against them and so forth. I think it is a matter of figuring out what information we need and how we go about collecting it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Our government has a number of checks and balances to make sure that doesn’t happen. We also have the conflict of interest requirements and all of these checks and balances that would prevent against nepotism. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Human Resources works very closely with the management of all the different departments to make sure that policies are followed and that the candidates that have the most merit and have the highest priorities of this government get hired for specific jobs.

We’ve looked at our hiring process. We looked at our job evaluation process to try to eliminate the systemic barriers that are either perceived or that have seen to be out there to prevent Aboriginal people from getting into jobs at different levels. We’re told that we put in barriers by demanding very specific qualifications or...

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, we have met with the Yukon and we are basically following the approach that the Yukon government has taken. We are developing a disabilities framework that we will be rolling out this coming year and as well as any programs that we can access money, we will be sure to pursue it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as a government, we are not averse to incorporating the best practices that are out there. That was the reason we approached the Yukon government, because they are seen as having one of the best diversity programs. I would expect that we would have been aware of that program. I will find out where we are at in terms of applying for money through that program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what we are intending to do, to work with the institutions and the government and so on. Most of them have started already and we want to maximize that kind of food. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we are in the process of identifying those areas. We have received federal funding as part of our Growing Forward initiative which would look at things like muskox, wood bison and, of course, Great Bear Lake obviously has a lot of fish, so those are the areas that we would be looking at. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize another MacLeod in the House. I’d like to recognize Lisa MacLeod, the MPP for Ontario, Nepean-Carleton, who works out of Queens Park. She’s the official opposition critic for revenue and government accountability. I’d also like to recognize a constituent of mine from Yellowknife South, Emily Stevenson. Thank you.