Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Those were comments, not questions. Next for general comments is Ms. Lee.

I call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee today, Mr. Lafferty?

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development has reviewed Bill 4, Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation Act, and wishes to report that Bill 4 is now ready for review in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I assume there’s an advertising campaign, as well; I’m assuming we go to job fairs. How many people in the Department of Health and Social Services are devoted to the task of recruitment of health care professionals to the North? If a nurse was reading this Outpost Nurses advertisement versus what we -- well, I’ve never seen an advertisement from us -- but how would what they’re offering and what we’re offering compare? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my statement today I talked about this being nurses week and I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if he could provide this House with an update on our ability, as a government, to fill nursing positions in the North right now. In the past, we had been struggling to ensure that vacant positions were filled. We’ve used a lot of agency nurses in the communities, locums and at a probably greater cost than it would cost our government if we could have nurses come here, be recruited, retain them. I’d like to ask the Minister what is...

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.