Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I assume there’s an advertising campaign, as well; I’m assuming we go to job fairs. How many people in the Department of Health and Social Services are devoted to the task of recruitment of health care professionals to the North? If a nurse was reading this Outpost Nurses advertisement versus what we -- well, I’ve never seen an advertisement from us -- but how would what they’re offering and what we’re offering compare? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my statement today I talked about this being nurses week and I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if he could provide this House with an update on our ability, as a government, to fill nursing positions in the North right now. In the past, we had been struggling to ensure that vacant positions were filled. We’ve used a lot of agency nurses in the communities, locums and at a probably greater cost than it would cost our government if we could have nurses come here, be recruited, retain them. I’d like to ask the Minister what is...

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the committee has been considering Bill 8, Supplementary Appropriation Act. No. 1, 2007-2008, and would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Agreed. Thank you. I’ll ask Mr. Thagard, our Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses to the table.

Mr. Roland, for the record could you please introduce your witnesses? Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Are there any further general comments? Detail, Members. Please turn in your books to Bill 8, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2007-2008 and turn to page 5. Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. At this time I will ask Mr. Roland if he would like to bring witnesses into the Chamber for the review of the bill. Mr. Roland.