Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of ITI, Mr. McLeod. It’s in regard to the position that he holds in regard to the area of Industry, Tourism and Investment. I think that a lot of times we lose sight that we do have subsidiaries out there, regardless if it’s through the Business Credit Corporation. In my riding we have the Fort McPherson Canvas Shop, which, again, gives younger people the opportunity to get training, but more importantly, get their first jobs.
Also, the other area in which the Minister is responsible is the area of tourism, in which a lot of Members in this House have had that opportunity of getting summer employment in that area. Again, I’d like to ask the Minister, as a department, have you looked at all the subsidiaries and all the different programs and services that you deliver to try to enhance the summer employment programs so that we can get the summer students in the different areas, regardless if it’s through the Business Credit Corporation, their subsidiaries, or through the parks and tourism infrastructure we have throughout the Northwest Territories so we give them that opportunity and also in the front-line workers?
I’d like to ask the Minister, have you broadened your scope of areas that summer students can work in so that we can hire more summer students in your department? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member may recall, when legislation was passed establishing the BDIC, that I’m very limited to the kind of direction I can give to the board. I can write them a letter recommending they hire more summer students, and I’m prepared to do so, but you have to also recognize the fact that the BDIC subsidiaries, we have to get FMB approval to subsidize jobs, because we figure that a job that’s not fully paid for is better than no job at all. In most of the subsidiaries we have to subsidize jobs up to a maximum of $25,000 per job, so we’re limited on that basis, as well. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, as we noted last year, this department had one of the higher summer hires by way of 32 positions, but I notice it’s down this year. I’d like to ask the Minister, to date, how many positions have been hired and are we going to try to exceed the 32 positions from last year.
I’m pleased to report that without the first month not being completed yet -- there’s still three more months of summer employment available -- to date we’ve hired 26 summer students. We’re about five or six away from meeting our target for this year. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I think the message we’re trying to send here to the Ministers and the different departments is that we want you to not only meet but we want you to beat those numbers from last year and get more summer students into the public workforce. I’d like to ask the Minister when did you start planning to hire summer students, and more importantly, what are we doing by way of promoting those opportunities so the students are aware that those opportunities are out there.
We started back in December and we identified the jobs on an ongoing basis, plus we also have projects that we gear to skills that different students have. For example, if we have a project, then we can start looking for students that have those skill sets that allow us to undertake projects that will allow us to go forward.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we heard earlier from the Minister, he doesn’t really like to be seen as directing departments or even tour operators for that, but I’d just like to suggest to the Minister that he write those letters and try to entice those people that are handling government contracts or providing government services, that they do consider summer employment as one of their options to stimulate our economy, but more importantly, give our young people an opportunity to go to work. Thank you.
I just want to indicate to the Member that I like to direct corporations but the legislation prevents me from doing so, so I’m just allowed to write them letters. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
