Bob McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We always do transitional arrangements for the incoming government, and absolutely, if I get the concurrence of all of the Members that this summer student strategy is important to make it a part of the transition information, then I will do so. We will be discussing this at future meetings. We’re quite prepared to do that.

I believe that our goals are realistic. I think that with our education system and the fact that we’re having more Aboriginal people attending post-secondary education institutions, we’re seeing graduation rates increasing. We look at our summer student rates, for example, where we’re finally getting where 50 percent of our summer students are Aboriginal. We’re working on that area. I think it’s going to take some time. Some of the initiatives that were undertaken with our Aboriginal Affirmative Action Advisory Committee I think are putting us in the right direction. With the next government I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize Yvonne Quick, a long-time promoter of tourism and outfitter in the Northwest Territories, and Bob Stevens, hardworking defenseman with Old Blasters Old-timers Hockey League.

Once I receive such a letter, we’ll proceed with the utmost speed.

We started back in December and we identified the jobs on an ongoing basis, plus we also have projects that we gear to skills that different students have. For example, if we have a project, then we can start looking for students that have those skill sets that allow us to undertake projects that will allow us to go forward.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can only say that great minds think alike. At this point the goal of the Government of the Northwest Territories is to have a representative workforce, which in this case we’re talking about Affirmative Action in which Aboriginal people represent about 50 percent of the Northwest Territories population. We’re also taking the same approach for persons with disabilities.

I just want to indicate to the Member that I like to direct corporations but the legislation prevents me from doing so, so I’m just allowed to write them letters. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member may recall, when legislation was passed establishing the BDIC, that I’m very limited to the kind of direction I can give to the board. I can write them a letter recommending they hire more summer students, and I’m prepared to do so, but you have to also recognize the fact that the BDIC subsidiaries, we have to get FMB approval to subsidize jobs, because we figure that a job that’s not fully paid for is better than no job at all. In most of the subsidiaries we have to subsidize jobs up to a maximum of $25,000 per job, so we’re limited on that basis, as well...

Mr. Speaker, one of the priorities of the 16th Legislative Assembly is improving human resource management within the Government of the Northwest Territories through training, career planning and encouraging employee innovation. By doing this, we move closer to our goal of an effective and efficient government.

The Department of Human Resources is working towards that goal with the Public Service Strategic Plan, 20/20: A Brilliant North. We know that to provide a high level of service to the people of the Northwest Territories, we must develop and maintain a public service representative of the...

I’m pleased to report that without the first month not being completed yet -- there’s still three more months of summer employment available -- to date we’ve hired 26 summer students. We’re about five or six away from meeting our target for this year. Thank you.