Sandy Lee

As would be the case with other positions, we would use locums to fill those positions as there are no permanent ones. Thank you.

I don’t believe that was a month ago. I think it was January 14th or 19th. We are working on the details the Member asked for and it’s in my office, it’s about 50 pages long. I’d be happy to get the document to the Member as soon as possible. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That’s a very, very broad question that could lead to a very broad discussion. Let me just say that with respect to extended health benefits, we do not use the language “supplementary health benefits” anymore because that policy has been rescinded. We are following the guidelines of the Joint Working Group. We have been having discussions with the standing committee and we are working on making some changes that would follow the Joint Working Group recommendation. So basically until something is changed, the status quo remains.

The Member is asking how that impacts the...

As the Member stated, this is a very important area and it will become more important as we move forward. NWT actually is at the forefront of rolling out programs and using the information technology. We are sort of a model student under Canada Infoway funding and being able to tap into those.

As the Member stated, bandwidth is a problem, it is a challenge in the NWT, as it is for the rest of the country. We do appreciate the support of the standing committee and the enthusiasm they’ve shown. Our department works with other departments and DPW and Education as we plan as a government on how we...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The issue there is the challenge we have had in recruiting staff for that program. We had gone out with advertisements for competitions at least twice, I believe, and we were not able...were not successful in getting the trainee for the audiology aide, so that is where we are but we are committed to continue to work on that.

Thank you. I will undertake to look at that, but I believe that all of the Members on the other side would like to know exactly where that money is being spent before we make a decision about reprofiling them. Thank you.

I guess the Member is asking, well, not having money in this budget, which was a question, that work would have to be done as a part of a regular process that the staff at the department that works on getting the capital planning process ready.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We don’t have that information. I’ll have to undertake to get that. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, yes, I will get back to the Member and Members here. Thank you.

Thank you. If the Member could provide me with more information on what he said that’s within my budget that I should re-look at, I’d be happy to do that.