Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We may disagree on a number of things here. But this issue of co-management vacancies is obviously a long-standing one when some positions have gone unfulfilled as long as five and a half years. Can the Minister commit to report to this House at least annually on co-management board vacancies and efforts to improve and avoid these sort of lengthy delays and appointments? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Looks like there's going to be four fulltime positions that are lost. Can the Minister tell me whether those are staffed currently? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Department of Executive website has a board appointment section on it, but there's really no easy way to determine which positions are vacant and for how long and when positions may be opening up. Would the Minister commit to improving the website in the interest of getting vacancies filled more quickly and to ensure greater transparency?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do appreciate the Minister putting up with my persistent line of questioning, but it was important to nail that down. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I want to recognize Marie Buchanan who helped with the birthing of either our son or daughter. It's over 20 years ago and I can't remember which one, but she was there and helped very much, and I appreciate her efforts as a nurse in Yellowknife. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, I am just not quite sure what to make of that answer. I don't think it was actually an answer. Is the Minister prepared to come back to the Regular MLAs with a policy and when would he be able to do that? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. On February 23, 2016 I asked the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations a number of written questions about vacancies on NWT comanagement boards. Earlier this week, partial answers were tabled in this House. There were some shocking revelations. Comanagement boards are institutions of public government that carry out legislated duties related to land use planning, environmental assessment, land and water use, and wildlife management. These boards are part of constitutionally protected land rights agreements that were negotiated among...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. When I read this, it seems like the federal government is providing implementation funding for the GNWT Inuvialuit, Gwich’in, Sahtu, and Tlicho agreements. Then when I turn back to page 34, the amounts in this work performed on behalf of others, seems to correspond roughly what to what is shown in the implementation part of the departmental budget back on page 34. Is that the case here? What is the relationship between these two tables? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I have questions for the Minister of Finance. First off, I would like to learn more, and the public deserves to know, how the government has studied and analyzed the impacts of the 58 GNWT job cuts in the budget, including the impacts on the territorial economy as a whole. In planning these cuts, did the government analyze how these job losses would take money out of the economy and our tax and transfer revenues and pursue cuts that were proven to have the least negative impact in these areas? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Now we'll turn to debating the budget and the public will have the opportunity to see where and how hard the axe has fallen and where we'll be devoting public funds to pursue opportunities. Over the coming days, I'll have questions for the Ministers on their vision for our economy, environment and society, and how a more forthright budgetary dialogue could improve cooperative development of tomorrow's NWT. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.