Robert C. McLeod

The Member, I think, raised a couple of questions there. He was talking about the fishing industry, and then the question was about protecting the waters of the NWT. Protecting the waters of the NWT, we obviously have a water strategy that we are working on. As far as the fishing goes, I mean, again, that is a federal responsibility. We have been listening to some of the outfitters on their concerns with sport fishing, so we have had those discussions with the federal Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to update Members on the fiscal situation and ongoing challenges we are facing for the next few years.

Yesterday the Premier talked about the government's vision for the future. Twenty years from now we want to see a healthy and prosperous territory where people have goodpaying jobs built on the foundation of responsible resource development. We see residents who have achieved economic independence and who do not have to rely on income assistance to get by. We see people who can own their own homes, provide for their children...

I want this review that we do on the Liquor Licensing Board or the guidelines to be as open as possible and to touch on many things. We have not had any discussions with the communities about that, but there is an opportunity again, as I said earlier, for stakeholder input, and we will be looking to hear from communities across the Northwest Territories to see if that is viable or if that is something that they would consider. We do want to make it a thorough examination of all the guidelines and policies and equip the boards so that they are making decisions based on an improved set. Thank...

One of the three points we are looking at is to increase the transparency and accountability of the Liquor Licensing Board. Much like with everything we do here in the 18th Assembly, we need to improve our transparency and make it a very transparent process, so that is one of the things that we are looking at, as far as another appeal. I mean, we have to look at that. I don't think it would be wise to set up another level of appeal process that licensees have to go through. We will be looking at those, but we do not anticipate setting up another level of appeal. We will just work within the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would also like to recognize Mrs. McLeod, but my Mrs. McLeod, and we just celebrated our 38th anniversary this July. Welcome to the gallery. I would also like to recognize the former Member from Frame Lake, Ms. Wendy Bisaro. Why did you leave? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Capital Estimates, 2018-2019," and "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 788-18(2) Mackenzie Delta Forest Fire Operations." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That is something that we are contemplating looking at, the board itself, the structure of the board, but I think the most important thing here is to give the board the proper tools to make decisions and make decisions that are transparent and maybe even published. The board just operates under the guidelines, policies, legislation as it is laid out now, and, if we can improve the tools that the board operates under, then I think that would give them a better opportunity to make decisions that are consistent with the improved policies that we provide to them.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The review will look at the legislation and regulation as well as the policies for the Liquor Licensing Board, and I look forward to the earliest opportunity to sit down with the Regular Members, the Regular Member committee, and have a discussion with them and receive some feedback. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned before, there are a lot of relief positions that we have and there is some overtime that does happen within the health authorities. Part of that can be attributable to the fact that it is a highly stressful job and there are times when the regular workers can't make it in so they have to call a relief person in. There was a study, in my understanding, done a few years ago, I think, by Health and Social Services on the amount of overtime that was being used across the health authorities in the Northwest Territories. My understanding is there...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT is a very large organization. Staff turnover and vacancies are a reality. Our vacancies do change from day to day. As of March 31 of this year, our vacancy rate was 3.4 per cent. I don't have comparisons with other governments, but we would assume that our rate would be similar to the national average across the economy. We put various efforts towards recruitment and filling vacancies, including the use of competitive process, transfer assignments, development opportunities, direct appointments, and regional recruitment programs. Also, the intern...