Tom Beaulieu

That is not what I am hearing, but in any event, if there is work being done, what type of work is being done? What direction has come from this Minister to other Ministers under the departments that are amalgamating to ensure that Affirmative Action Policy is being followed when they are reducing positions?

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Human Resources. Mr. Speaker, the government has proposed three separate amalgamations in this upcoming fiscal year and Infrastructure and the amalgamation of the Executive DAAIR and also Finance, Human Resources. My question for the Minister of Human Resources is: is there work being done with those departments that are amalgamated by him, as the Minister of Human Resources, to ensure that the affirmative action is being followed if there is to be any reduction in positions? Thank you.

Anti-poverty is a big issue in the NWT. What new money is being invested and targeted to anti-poverty in 2017-18?

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I talked about poverty. I'd like to ask the Minister responsible for Poverty a couple of questions on that.

The federal Minister of Family, Children and Social Development has said that provinces and territories have provided ideas on how to engage the federal government differently. How will the Minister, our Minister, ensure the needs of the Northwest Territories are represented in the new Poverty Reduction Strategy under development at the federal level? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Chair rise and report progress.

Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I think that is clear. What is not clear is why it was cash-flowed over two years, but that is fine. I have no more questions in this area. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, can the Minister tell me how many positions existed in mineral petroleum resources, active positions, in 2015-16, so that I get a better picture of what the director is referring to?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 26118(2), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 20172018, with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The Summer Student program is an excellent program run by GNWT. The one bit of issue with it is the competitiveness of the private small businesses around the NWT when it comes to trying to hire summer students. I would like to know if the Minister has considered a way, in addition to trying to increase the number of hires by GNWT, of trying to support the students who are going to be going to the small businesses in a way of a subsidy or something like that for small businesses or for the students directly who wish to work for small businesses?

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Human Resources on summer students. Mr. Speaker, on April 30th this year, about two and a half months from now, the students will be coming back to the NWT or finishing off their post-secondary schooling here in the NWT. I would like to know if all of the departments are starting to advertise and take applications for summer students at this time? Thank you.