Caroline Wawzonek

I can say that, over the course of approximately six years, there were only 19 complaints, and in fact, this fiscal year thus far, there has only been one. I certainly will look to compile that information and provide it for the use and review of the panel. As for what they may do with it, obviously, that is certainly up to them. Again, we'll see where it goes, but certainly, we can compile that and provide it for their use.

Those two departments, while under one Minister, have different areas, and they may not necessarily flow into the agriculture-commercial sector, for which ITI is responsible. Notwithstanding, Mr. Speaker, I was happy to discover very recently through my colleague that take a kid gardening is, in fact, a program that exists in schools across the Northwest Territories. Absolutely, I will commit to speaking to the Minister of ECE and the Minister of Justice to see what we can do to bring some synergy to this area and to agriculture more broadly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

With respect to meat regulations, that work is right now actively taking place in my colleague's department, Health and Social Services, and that indeed is part of the mandate and, as such, is moving along and will be reported on in that regard. Beyond that, Mr. Speaker, there is also now, newly formed, the territorial agriculture agri-food association. That is an entity that is very active in this space and one that I would certainly commend producers to be involved with as an advocacy group to identify any other barriers that may exist. Last, Mr. Speaker, there is recently rolled out the red...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are quite a lot of initiatives underway. One of them that I think I have spoken to recently would be in terms of the Mining Incentive Program. That is a program that is within the government's mandate to increase funding to, and funding was increased and modified to adapt to COVID-19 so that it could be better accessed and more useful for those who are having to adapt their systems and their processes to continue to explore, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to that, Mr. Speaker, there is a wide variety of other initiatives underway. Not knowing quite...

At this point, that one, I am going to take back and say I will get back to the Member on it. I know there was some initial anticipation of what might get out there with respect to, for instance, the vital statistics and various health information. Again, subject to how the framework has unfolded and subject to the application of that framework to the technology that is now landed on as being useful, I would like to confirm if, in fact, we are still going to proceed with the vital statistics and health information first or not. That was always the intention.

Mr. Speaker, the open government portal has been delayed somewhat. I had been hoping we'd be further along at this point and have some more information moving forward onto the portal. I can say at this point that, at least now, we do have the technology ready to roll out that will be implemented. What they are working on next is a data management framework. I acknowledge, and I must say, that the number of steps required to ensure that data is managed properly insofar as both being a collective of all of the different items of data and high data usages across different departments but also in...

It turns out that today, in fact, the tourism development officer from the South Slave is meeting with the SAO from Enterprise. I will personally follow up so that I can see what transpired in that meeting and will communicate with my colleague the MLA to let him know also what transpired at that meeting and to hopefully advance whatever projects might be discussed and whatever ideas might be discussed.

With respect to the campground contracts, those do go through a procurement process. I will follow up with the MLA to ensure that he is aware and that the SAO in the community is aware when...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can say that the Department of ITI has been recently quite involved working with the community to support some of their economic development programs and projects. The deputy minister has been there several times, as has deputy minister of ENR, working with the community, again, specifically on their economic development. I am confident that they can, again, reach out to the community, continue that involvement, and continue to support them in looking for economic development opportunities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The direct appointment process is one that is quite carefully used. There are specific rationales, and only under those specific rationales can a department request a direct appointment. Then the rationale needs to be, of course, reviewed by the Minister before supporting the request for direct appointment. It is most often used, Mr. Speaker, for situations where a competition has been held and a position can't be filled. It's been used to make use of the tools and techniques, such as Indigenous Gateway and internship programs, and to try to support those individuals here in the Northwest...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Every department is responsible for their own hiring. What they would do, then, is bring in the Department of Finance and human resources. We are there to, indeed, support that process and to work with them to make sure that, in fact, the Affirmative Action Policy is being properly applied. I certainly am confident that that does happen. Every time these questions come through my office, we are able to review and to look at and to ensure that the policy is being applied. The short answer, Mr. Speaker, is yes. Thank you.