Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier in the sitting, my honourable friend from Yellowknife North asked the Minister responsible for Infrastructure some questions surrounding security delays of the YZF Airport. At that time, the Minister identified that the Canadian Air Transportation Security Authority staffing was the biggest problem and the cause of these delays. A recent CBC article, on February 20th, had a response from CATSA on these delays, and they said that an additional security line was never part of the airport renovation plan that they submitted to the agency, and if the...

I will follow up on the work of the procurement group when we get to that activity. Thank you. Nothing further.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is it was three months. The Minister had three months to fill this position. The Minister can't tell me if there is more than one person. I would like to know what process is in place to ensure that Cabinet and political appointments conform to the standards of transparency and fairness that Northerners have come to expect from their government? Thank you.

The position is for the public, not for our employees, and certainly not for the Minister. What criteria did the Minister use to select the candidate? Just being a long-time Northerner, a long-time personal staff member of the Minister? Or were there other selection criteria?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am sure that everyone knows that the Minister is capable about making this appointment. It is the Minister's judgment around this appointment that is the issue. Will the Minister agree to re-assess this appointment with the advice of someone who is skilled in assessing conflict and make the appropriate decision after that time? Will he at least look into this from a conflict perspective? Thank you.

I acknowledge that the Minister has the discretion. In fact, I said that earlier today. The Minister's predecessor made the last appointment with a public process. Why did the Minister not follow the same process that Northerners have come to expect surrounding this appointment?

Mr. Speaker, we privileged few in this House face no small amount of public scrutiny for the decisions we make, which is a fundamental feature of our democratic traditions. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that we all uphold the high standards Northerners expect from us in the decisions that we make.

Mr. Speaker, politicians as a whole never tend to poll well, except for a handful on election day. Earlier this year, a survey asked Canadians which jobs they trust and respect the most. While firefighters and nurses came out on top, politicians were found to be the least-respected jobs in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I appreciate the Minister saying that the department is going to look at it, review that, and I greatly appreciate she is going to get back to me with that information. The Minister spoke about, when I asked her questions earlier, she talked about income support and having to look at it. Can the Minister advise, if seniors apply for this seniors' subsidy, do the department staff actually encourage the seniors to apply for income support, as well?

The Minister has spoken about the urgency around this appointment. How much time did the previous workers' advisor give notice when they resigned from the position? How much time did the Minister have to fill this position?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission has clearly laid out his case that he has a statutory authority to appoint this candidate. The question is around the fairness of the appointment. I would like to know if the Minister can tell this House: how many candidates were considered for the workers' advisor position? Thank you.