I do not believe any of the departments would be closed to that idea. I think that if there’s a good performing individual in the system that sees there’s an advancement opportunity within their department or other departments and sees there’s going to be a competitive process or a job that has become vacant and they have shown interest in it, I believe that we would facilitate people that may be interested in the position, for a direct appointment by their own request. Thank you.

Direct appointments are used often when a competitive process will not give better results than somebody that we have in the system that is eligible for direct appointment. Also, Mr. Speaker, direct appointments can be used for the advancement of an Aboriginal candidate that would be qualified that would be a front runner for a competitive process. So then we’d skip through the competitive process and go to a direct appointment for advancement purposes. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to commemorate Remembrance Day, I am pleased to confirm the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is designating a section of Highway No. 1, from the Alberta border to Enterprise, as the NWT Highway of Heroes. This designation will serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by northern soldiers, police officers, firefighters, emergency medical and rescue personnel, and other first responders who have died in the line of duty.

Recognizing our northern heroes demonstrates our government’s commitment to the Assembly’s vision of Believing in People and Building...

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General will audit the tolls and I can bring that information to the House. Thank you.

Thank you. Was the question is there an auto toll? I thought that’s what the question was. Yes? Auto toll?

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Since the opening of the Deh Cho Bridge, food prices overall in Yellowknife have gone up by 2.1 percent. In the same time period when we compare it with the cost increases in Alberta, it’s 2.8; 2.9 in Saskatchewan; and 2.8 in Manitoba. So I don’t think the increases can be directly associated with the bridge. Some of it could be, but it’s not significantly higher, or in fact it’s not higher than anywhere else. Thank you.

Thank you. Likely I will not join in the sponsorship of that bill. It sounds like the majority of the jurisdictions are still not disclosing all of the individuals’ salaries publicly. Another thing is that the Territories has a very small population. I suppose when you’re dealing with millions of people, and people make the decision to print people’s salaries, most people don’t know who the specific people that have their salaries printed are. But in our jurisdiction I know that there are very few people and everybody knows everyone, and I don’t think that that would be something that would be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding at this time is that there’s a privacy rights issue for individuals not to have their names and exact salaries printed in a paper. GNWT salary grids including everybody that makes over $100,000, that would be the deputy senior management. All of those salary grids are on the Human Resources website right now. Thank you.

Direct appointments are initiated by departments. So if the departments have a need in a specific area where they feel that fulfilling that position with a direct appointment, usually again from internal resources, sometimes from individuals in other departments and sometimes bringing someone else in that is new. The departments initiate the direct appointment. They are vetted through various deputy ministers within the government and from the deputy minister, then it’s presented to Cabinet who have the appropriate Minister. Thank you.

Yes, that shouldn’t be a problem.