Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.
Given the situation that we are in the Northwest Territories and the limit of resources we have to combat this superbug, would the Minister consider, with all the colleagues, to look at radical change in housing situations? It is like putting a bandage type of solution on, because the root of the issue and the root cause… What is the root cause of this superbug?
One of the contributing factors is overcrowding in homes and children. Is it something that we really need to take a hard look at the housing in our communities and look at the overcrowding? Can the Minister commit that he will have this discussion with the Cabinet on looking at the overcrowding in our small communities?
Mr. Speaker, we can take a look at the patterns of where the infections are occurring and correlate them to whether or not they are caused by overcrowding.
Overcrowding is probably the number one factor to the spread of this infection. I can talk to not only the Minister of the Housing Corporation but also other Cabinet colleagues on this issue to try to address that as soon as possible. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Hawkins to the Premier on May 30, 2012, regarding direct appointments. Mr. Hawkins asked for a list of all direct appointments made by the Cabinet of the 17th Assembly, noting the employing departments and the reasons for filling the positions through direct appointments.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to advise this House that the Cabinet of the 17th Assembly has recommended 57 individual direct appointments from the beginning of the term to date of the Member’s question.
Sixteen of these direct appointments concerned term appointments to positions in the Ministers’ offices which will expire shortly after the next general election. Fifteen of these appointments were, in effect, reappointments of individuals who had worked in term positions in the Assembly building during the 16th. More recently, a term direct appointment was made to fill a vacancy left following an executive secretary’s decision to relocate to another province.
Mr. Speaker, Members of the House are familiar with one-year internship placements for northern post-secondary graduates. As of May 30th, 13 individual grads have been direct appointed to one-year term positions under this program. This includes one intern position in the Executive, one in Environment and Natural Resources, two in Health and Social Services, four in Human Resources, two in Industry, Tourism and investment, two in Transportation and one at the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission.
Six deputy minister level positions were filled at the beginning of this Assembly, three of which involved the reassignments of portfolios and three of which involved the appointment of individuals who had not previously held deputy minister portfolios. Three of the direct appointments concerned the reassignment of deputy ministers’ secretaries.
The remaining 19 recommended direct appointments concerned four positions in Education, Culture and Employment, six positions in Environment and Natural Resources, one position in Executive, two positions in Finance, one position in Human Resources, two positions in Health and Social Services, and three positions in Industry, Tourism and Investment. The 19 direct appointments were recommended so as to:
support the career development of an affirmative action candidate from outside the public service where an open competition would not be an appropriate way of filling the positions (six cases);
support the advancement of an existing employee who has successfully completed a formal training/preparatory assignment directly related to the position (six cases);
retain specialized and unique experience within the public service while supporting the career development of long-term employees who have demonstrated both ability and commitment to the organization (six cases, four at the associate or assistant deputy minister level); and
secure services where recent recruitment practices for similar positions indicate that an open competition would not be an appropriate way of filling the position (one case).
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Moses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has reviewed Bill 2, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2012, and Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Securities Act, and wish to report that Bills 2 and 8 are now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.
Further, the Standing Committee on Social Programs wishes to report that they are also reviewing Bill 5, Legal Aid Act, and Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Judicature Act, and would like to report that additional time is required to complete the review of Bills 5 and 7.
The 120 day review period has been extended to November 8, 2012, for Bills 5 and 7.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following four documents, entitled GNWT Response to Committee Report 1-17(3), Review of the NWT Information and Privacy Commissioner’s 2010-2011 Annual Report; the GNWT Response to Committee Report 2-17(3), Review of Human Rights Commission 2010-2011 Annual Report; GNWT Response to Motion 12-17(3), Mental Health Court Diversion Measures; and Annual Report: Activities of the Rental Office for 2011-12. Finally, further to my Return to Written Question 7-17(3), I wish to table the following document, entitled Performance Bonuses Paid Out in 2011-12. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents, entitled GNWT Response to Committee Report 3-17(3), Review of Languages Commissioner’s 2010-2011 Annual Report, and GNWT Response to Motion 5-17(3), Early Childhood Development. Finally, further to my Return to Written Question 4-17(3), I wish to table the following document entitled GNWT Safer Advantage Claims Cost Experience and Penalties. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following four documents, entitled Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 2-17(2), Old Age Security; Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 3-17(3), Increased Support for Renewable Energy; Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 9-17(3), Establishment of Independent Ombudsman’s Office; Government of the Northwest Territories Response to CR 4-17(3), Report on the Review of the Status Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 4-17(2), Improving Drug and Alcohol Programs. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled NWT Capital Estimates 2013-2014, and further to my Return to Written Question 9-17(3), I wish to table the following document entitled Department Small Capital Projects. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Tabled document 64-17(3) is moved into Committee of the Whole. Mr. Clerk.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a response to a petition provided by the Honourable Robert C. McLeod, Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, in response to a petition tabled by Mr. Norman Yakeleya on June 13, 2012. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Mr. Hawkins.
