Bob McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are working towards having a draft prepared by January 2008. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize some Metis cousins.

---Laughter

Kenny Hudson, president of the Fort Smith Metis Local; as well as Vern Jones, the president of the NWT Metis Nation; Arthur Beck; Kara King; Jim Green from Dog River; I think it is Shannon Cumming. Also two constituents of mine from Yellowknife South, Mr. Gerald Read and Janet Pound.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Definitely, we would like to find a way to have a single-window approach, especially with the Community Futures program. I expect that the timeline would have to be tied in with the business planning process. I would think that it would probably be a period of four to five months, I think. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I haven’t seen anything formal other than I know that within the Department of ENR, there have been indications that they do require additional space for their own departmental requirements. Until such time as we are officially advised that they want us out of there, we will continue to stay in those locations. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My colleague at the Department of ENR is dealing with energy conservation issues and there are a number of projects that are looking into this area. I guess the best example is the Fort Smith electrification project whereby the government is converting a number of government facilities from diesel to electric heating and power. As a government, we are getting organized so that we are better coordinated to deal in all areas of energy. It will be an area that I will be working very closely with my colleague from the Department of ENR and also the Minister responsible...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the honourable Member for that question. This is an area that the government has been looking at for some time and I’m also pleased to report that in the last government there were several initiatives that were looked at in terms of energy conservation and a number of projects that were undertaken with that exact purpose in mind. I think that there have been a number of energy strategies, as well. Looking at renewable energy, part of the problem has always been that they have never been able to come up with an example or where the costs have been lower...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that government tourism staff accompanied the group that visited China and it will be that group that will be writing the report. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly that's an area that we are looking at. I think we would like to undertake a process of many surveys so that we can, it will give us the ability to focus in on specific problem areas and help us to react to them more quickly. As the Member knows, the problem with engagement surveys is getting people to respond. Generally if we get a third of the employees to respond, we think we're doing good. If similarly we target specific areas, we would have to take that into account. But this is something that we are definitely looking at doing. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The United Way is a very important organization and I participated in the opening of their fundraising efforts. It’s an organization that we are working with and, certainly, I would be pleased to put in a reminder to all GNWT employees to sign on and start contributing to the United Way.

Mr. Speaker, human resources are the most important resource in an organization. Government of the Northwest Territories managers and the Department of Human Resources are becoming strategic partners in human resource management, ensuring the GNWT has the right people in the right jobs to support GNWT business program delivery.

In the months to come, I am looking forward to providing this House with an update on those efforts and highlighting some of the initiatives that will enhance our ability to recruit and retain a top-notch public service. Today, I would like to touch on a few areas for...