Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I think this motion does at least…. I would have to agree somewhat with the Member for…

As the Member has highlighted, the fact is that we do work around our Capital Acquisition Plan, the strategies that are in place. There have been quite a number of them laid out. From time to time we do update them, or the focus becomes around communities instead of territory-wide initiatives.

We will work with communities as we have in the past. Some communities, for example, have gone out and done their own studies or cost-benefit analyses and even some design work, and then we sit down and have those sorts of discussions.

We’re prepared to sit down with communities and do some work together...

The process wouldn’t quite match up that way. Yes, the timing and so on looks like it would, but the positions that are actually targeted for reductions aren’t the chief negotiator positions. So we would end up having to deal with that outside this process anyway.

For example, we’re looking at a policy position, a communications position, an administrative position, financial planning, budget analyst position, communications again, an intergovernmental relations analyst, and two assistant lands negotiators are being targeted as well. So it’s not the chief negotiator piece we’ve organized so...

In fact, this morning we were talking in Cabinet about pulling together the information that we can sit down with Members on and come up with a joint process of dealing with these issues. So yes, it will remain on our roles and strategic actions as we work through this Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Joining me at the table here to my left is Ms. Gabriela Sparling, deputy minister of Aboriginal and Intergovernmental Affairs. To my right is Mr. Richard Robertson, chief financial adviser within the Department of DAAIR.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, indeed, we have, when we talked about the services, the vision and goals of the 16th Legislative Assembly. One of the areas we look at is strategic action supporting small and sustainable remote communities. We’ve had a number of discussions flowing throughout a number of initiatives that we’ve highlighted, whether it’s Reducing the Cost of Living, Building Our Future, Refocusing Government. There are a number of factors in each area that we want to put some energy into and focus on through the life of this Assembly to reduce those gaps the Member has highlighted.

Mr. Chairman, that position is filled through our normal hiring practices governing the Northwest Territories. It’s not a contract position, so that position followed the same process of competition.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m pleased to present the 2008–2009 Main Estimates for the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, incorporating feedback provided by standing committees.

The Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations carries an important responsibility on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories. It is responsible for negotiating, implementing and monitoring land, resources and self-government agreements, including treaty land entitlements. It manages the GNWT’s relationship with the federal government and with provincial...

The transfer assignment position…. The home department is actually FMBS, and that is an affected position, so that person is working with their home department.

I’d have to get some clarity from the Minister of Human Resources, but my understanding of the process is that we’re looking at retirement. If individuals have set their dates, we have to work with, for example, Superannuation, because there are set dates when individuals can qualify. Working with them on potential earlier retirement for individuals that may be affected…. Once people are retired, I don’t see where we have any problems. Again, I’d have to defer to the Minister of Human Resources and get more detail on that. But for retirement and coming back as a casual, people call their...