Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, to be clear, I'm not advocating anything like what happened with the seniors' extended health benefits. I was just indicating that I don't think there's a whole lot of jurisdictions that are extending benefits that are harmonized to the NIHB, as we are in the GNWT. As far as I'm concerned, you know, we would continue to apply the Metis health benefits and pay the Metis health benefits until the federal government sorts out what the overall cost of that decision would be just in the area of health benefits. I'm not seeing a whole bunch of other areas where...

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson. Mr. Chairperson, committee would like to consider “Main Estimates, 2016-2017,” starting with two departments of Executive in there.

The Minister sort of answered parts of the third question, but to be very clear and focused, I would like to ask the Minister what the mines have identified as the key reasons for failing to meet the target of hiring Aboriginal employees at the diamond mines?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement I talked about the socio-economic agreements that our government has with the three diamond mines. I'd like to ask the Minister of ITI questions on that. Does the government have any way of holding the diamond mines to account for employment targets set out in the socio-economic agreements? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of Human Resources. I'd like to ask the Minister of Human Resources if you can give the House a status on the Regional Recruitment Program. Thank you.

I would like to ask the Minister if he can direct the department to do some specific work with the community of Fort Resolution in developing an action plan to augment the Cancer Strategy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement, I talked about the Cancer Strategy for Department of Health and Social Services. I have questions for the Minister. I would like to ask firstly, Minister, were there action plans put in the Cancer Strategy, action items that will be done this fiscal year? Thank you.

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about cancer. On May 27, 2016, Donald Beaulieu passed away from cancer in Fort Resolution. Donald was a good ball player, hockey player, dog musher, and an overall sports enthusiast. Mr. Speaker, Donald was the first person that I knew in the Northwest Territories that was hired at the Pine Point Mine so that he could be part of the men's hockey team. Mr. Speaker, Donald was born in Fort Resolution November 15, 1949. So he was still young enough to be active with the people that played sports in the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the same Minister if there is a strategy to address the affirmative action numbers in the government. We know that the affirmative action numbers are low; they're far below what the goal is. I'd like to know from this Minister if there's a government-wide strategy to address the issue of members of the public service not having…priority one candidates not having many numbers or high numbers as we wish to achieve in the government's goal. I'd like to know if there's a strategy in place to increase those numbers. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister, although I recognize that direct appointment is a Cabinet program, I'd like to ask the Minister if he can indicate to the House in direct appointments being done by Cabinet, if there are as many direct appointments now as there were the previous six months.