R.J. Simpson

Thank you. So other jurisdictions have a lot more political staff that can make those connections. I don't have a breakdown of other jurisdictions. I do have our main estimates and our business plans in front of us, and so I can discuss those, but I can't provide a list right now to the Member of positions that might be comparable in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and so on. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think I misheard part of the Member's question earlier. So I'll hand it to the deputy minister for some more information on this. Thank you.

Thank you. So that's still to be determined. We -- you know, we're in the middle of a leadership race right now. It is prior to, you know, potentially an election period. The House is not sitting. And so there's different times in Ottawa. Sometimes there's a lot of people around. Sometimes there's not a lot of people around. Sometimes there's transitions when you want to have a voice there. Sometimes there's not. So it's dependent, and it's hard to really say with the current situation in Ottawa what that split of time will be. Thank you.

I'll hand it to the deputy minister through you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. So there was the principal secretary moved into a new role, so the role is new. I'm not sure if there's a technical definition I can provide about when a position is new, but the position did not exist before it was created so in that sense it's a new position, but it's not a new person in the position. Thank you.

Sure, yes, I can make some comments on that. So, you know, there are cases where the departments do have integrated teams, and so while you might not have the DM from one department directing an employee from another department, there is integration. So there's those internal structures in place. And the reason that this is under EIA and the Premier's office is because I recognize the difficulties in getting departments to work together. I was Minister of ECE. I was Minister of Justice. I had difficulty getting ECE and justice to work together. So I'm very much aware of these issues, and...

Thank you. I'll pass that to the deputy minister.

Could the Minister clarify that again; I couldn't quite understand the question. Thanks.

Yes, no. I think we're on the same page. I mean, that's what we're doing. I've ate plenty of danishes in this building, and I drink plenty of coffee, and I contemplate things like this. And so I -- you know, I'm happy to hear that the Member's perspective on this is similar to mine and, yeah, I value the feedback. Thank you.

Thank you. So I believe we actually have an observer on the committee. We've been -- you know, and I've been in talks with the Premier of the Yukon on this and talking about how we can better collaborate, and as the three northern territories, we do collaborate on these types of initiatives. Every chance we get, we get up in front of a microphone and we talk about these security issues. You know, there's a good relationship at the official level between my deputy minister and staff in the department of defence. And I can say that I've seen that relationship -- I'll say it's improved in the...