Robert Hawkins

I thank the Premier for that answer. Before I get specifically to the impacted and whatnot, the Premier did make a statement regarding meeting their mandate. I just want to be clear: he’s saying that with a reduction of staff, they’ll still be able to meet their mandate. Could he explain what the case was before? If there’s been a reduction of — can I say? — approximately 20 to 25 per cent of staff, that’s a huge reduction. From a layperson’s point of view, you’re saying you can delete 25 per cent of people working on a particular file, or maybe in an area, and still meet that mandate, so...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I’ll be supporting this motion on a couple of principles. We often talk about sort of raising women in the context of senior management and making sure that they’re profiled appropriately and given fair opportunities.

This actually happens to be one of those departments where we have a deputy minister who is a female. It also falls down, though, in other areas, where it’s less admirable. It doesn’t reflect our general population and the distribution of representation.

So that was the principle of why I am supporting this motion. You would think, if anything...

Well, I still have a couple of small questions. I feel that they’re appropriate, and I’ll continue with them in that regard.

Mr. Chairman, we have the infrared thermal scanning continuing on page 4, and it talks about community buildings. Although I support the GNWT scanning its buildings — and again, there’s no specific line item that points to this, so that’s why it is appropriate in opening comments — I’m curious as to whether the department actually charges back for this in any way. Is this something we do as a favour while we’re in the community? My thought is it would probably incur...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, a private sector person called me yesterday, as I’ve said, and they want access to any opportunities they can to help leverage their money to hire students, because they’ve got a lot of work in their shop. This is one of a number of examples out there. Mr. Speaker, if there is a pot out there through the Progressive Experience Program, how much money is available, and how would they obtain access to this potential program to make sure they put these students to work?

I appreciate, on page 4…. This is an item I’ve highlighted a few times in the past in the 15th Assembly — the standardized design for buildings. I’m quite pleased to see it’s written into the Minister’s comments.

The issue I have here is that quite often some of these buildings, although they are important infrastructure…. What happens is the infrastructure then turns from needs to wants, and then from wants to artistic design, and then from artistic design to turning it into an award the whole world gets to see. You go from standardized windows of being normal rectangles to really interesting...

Mr. Speaker, I spoke yesterday in question period and asked the Minister of Human Resources about what they’re doing for summer students. We talked about summer students that potentially could be hired by the GNWT, and that process. The Minister alluded to a potential answer to my questions about the private sector. In the past there has been an incentive program out there for the private sector. I think the Minister said there was around a $5,000 potential out there. What is the Minister doing to ensure that the private sector knows this is available, and to make sure that they can obtain...

Just one more question in this area. Well, I certainly hope only one more question. Is that because…? We were talking about space and whatnot, when the Premier talked about revision coming in ’09–10, so I won’t press that too far. But I just want to get clarity, and hopefully, it’s the last time: is this manager position a permanent position that is staffed at this office, or are they a contract or some type of special hire — hired in a special way outside of the normal process?

Well, you know, it’s funny. When the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, or government as a whole, says, “We’ll take action,” it could mean years. But when citizens like my constituents Adrian Bell or Paul Falvo, or I should mention Diavik, which will be now known as Rio Tinto…. I mean, when they decided to help clean up the streets, they could make a decision in that day and then run out there and start cleaning up the streets on these types of problems.

Mr. Speaker, what’s taking this problem so long? When can we see some real action on this? Because it’s not a difficult problem...

The Minister wasn’t 100 per cent clear on the transfer assignment positions. Is that one that is affected and will be reduced, and will that mean there will be one person in the office after a certain period of time?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe in practical approaches to everyday problems. I believe we have a solution before us about this plastic bag problem, which is to use cloth bags or recyclable bags. In my household I try to lead by example. I have a six-year-old who often reminds me about stuff like that, because it’s the young kids who know all about this problem. They seem to be teaching us older folks.

We need some leadership from the Department of ENR on this issue. I’d certainly like to know and get some details as to where this government is on working toward eliminating, in a gradual...