Caroline Wawzonek

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, so there is a joint initiative between the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Finance. And I will speak specifically to the health area though, really, Madam Chair, at this point the department of health mirrors more closely what happens in other departments in that there are still management roles for the department's staff that then work with a human resources officer or client services officer who can support the work that goes on to hire someone into an individual department or division.

The health recruitment unit, though, is...

Thank you, Madam Chair. That I guess I set myself up for that one. Madam Chair, so, I mean, we have the liquor and cannabis commission, which is the entity responsible for actually doing the sales of the liquor and now cannabis. So the revolving fund really does fund those operations and as soon as they have an excess, they don't make a profit; that money goes back to the consolidated revenue of the Government of the Northwest Territories. But by keeping it separate, they do they can run their own operation, and yes, separate unto themselves which I would say is not necessarily an area that...

Thank you, Madam Chair. The contributions or payments are made over the summer months, so either between July to before the end of August.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I certainly can sorry, yes, so that's the difference there. That, Madam Chair, was positionally well, a couple of things, Madam Chair. There were some changes in terms of compensation and benefits back at the time. There was unfunded positions and underfunded positions that have been that have adjusted over time. And then also, Madam Chair, there was an unfunded donation this is where there's a donation that was made, $150,000 to United Way, to deal or to support flood relief came out of there as well. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So there is of course, there has been a review of the Liquor Act in the length of this Assembly, and I would say credit to the standing committee for encouraging that to move forward. There and that would be one of the items that can be considered through that process, and it's obviously then a process that includes public consultation. I think the Member sort of stated it much the way I've been receiving information, which is that there's what might be workable and appropriate for a large centre such as Yellowknife may not necessarily be reflective of what's wanted...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, that is it's the number that's put in here is based on historical averages and so that's why you see $7.6 million there, and it does obviously vary year by year. But based on historical averages, that's the number that is used. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, essentially the main estimates that would have been seen by the House earlier in the Committee of the Whole process is what comes through financial management board and gets approval. So it's a similar process, although because the corporation not housing another department, that's why it the money shows up here going through the Department of Finance. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, so the process right now is a proponent would have to be designated as a vendor. There are currently three private stores which certainly has, as I think the Member's pointed out, gone up and that it may be one of the explanations simply by fact of having more access that there are now more licensed and legal sales. So there are ongoing processes I understand, and that's some of the other and sorry, just to also the privatelyrun store that is existing as well, which took that off the hands of the government to run. There are RFPs out typically that would...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I understand it is the Tlicho government that would ultimately own that. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This was negotiated as part of the collective agreement some years ago, and it goes to the Public Service Alliance's of Canada social justice fund, and 50 percent of that goes to United Way Northwest Territories.