Bob McLeod

Yes, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are working at this from a number of fronts. First of all was the successful achievement of devolution two years ago and we are now continuing to devolve and evolve and the mining legislation out there will be reviewed. We are also looking at introducing a Mineral Resources Act. The Northwest Territories is one of only two jurisdictions in Canada that does not have a Mineral Resources Act. This will be very important for our mining industry. It will provide for more effective oversight and enforcement of Northwest Territories mining regulations. We are also talking...

Early next year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we share those views. Thank you.

That's correct, Mr. Chair.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to thank Committee for their review of the main estimates. If I may, Mr. Chair, I wanted to point out that this will be the last time Penny Ballantyne will appear to defend the main estimates for the Executive. I wanted to thank her for all her support over the years. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Government of the Northwest Territories works hard to bring awareness to the significant benefits that mineral exploration, mine operations and processing can bring to people. The Government of the Northwest Territories through our Department of Education, Culture and Employment is working with the mines to support them in meeting their northern hiring targets. This includes connecting the mines with students, promoting employment opportunities throughout the Northwest Territories by working with and supporting the mines as they undertake regional and community recruitment initiatives...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We set up a website to track it. It wasn't our intention to take over the responsibility to increase the number of women. Certainly, if we can't get nominations from the MLAs submitting women, certainly we can change the process whereby we will go out and find women to fill these positions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would ask you, through you, Richard Robertson, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That would be the Government House Leader and myself. Thank you, Mr. Chair.