Glen Abernethy

I’m good.

I'm quite happy to hear that the department is willing to work with the sector. I think that's great. It's great that they understand the value and hope to work with, but on the other side, they turn around and say, “But we're not giving you any money.”

The sector actually has gone out and has found some money. I indicated it in my Member's statement. They also have a great relationship with Sport North, which helps them with some infrastructure and whatnot. So they still do require some operating funds from time to time. As an example, the board consists of members from all over the Northwest...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are in follow-up to my Member's statement on the end of operations of Volunteer NWT.

Given that the voluntary sector is a key player in helping us develop and maintain healthy communities, I was sad to hear that Volunteer NWT, which is a champion for the sector, is shutting down operations due to limited and/or no funding from the GNWT. In the past the GNWT has supported them and has provided some funding. Now it appears that they've cut them completely off.

My question is to the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs. I'm curious...

Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Given that we’re on the page, I just have a real quick question. I see that the graduate placement program is being reduced, and I understand that’s due to lack of enrolment or lack of uptake on the program, which makes sense. I mean, if we don’t have enough students, it makes sense not to spend the money — or rather, to reinvest that money in more appropriate areas. But it raises a different question to me.

Given the importance of nurses and the success we’ve had at Aurora College and intake on that nursing program, I’m really curious why the enrolment is dropping off so...

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Ms. Lee.

I’d like to thank the Minister for putting words in my mouth. I’d prefer it, obviously, if she’d actually listen to what I’m saying.

The department has a mandate. I’m asking you what criteria you were using to ensure that the elimination of specific positions would not adversely affect your mandate. I’m not suggesting they weren’t doing or contributing to the mandate. But changing positions — which were obviously, at some point in the department’s history, put in there because they contributed to the mandate…. Removing them has an impact. I’m asking you what criteria you used to dig into the...

I’m not sure what that means. I’m not sure how you’re planning to train these individuals. I’d like some information on that.

Thank you, Mr.  Cummings. Any further questions on page 6-10? Mr. Hawkins.

I’ve indicated before that when it comes to the reduction exercises, I’m less concerned about vacant positions. There are still a number of positions that have incumbents in them.

In my first question, I asked you if you could go into the type of analysis you used in order to figure out which positions were going to be eliminated, what that analysis entailed with respect to the department’s mandate, and all those things. You didn’t really answer the question on what kind of analysis you used, what you used as criteria, and how you dug in and figured out which positions weren’t contributing to...