Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my Member statement, directed to the Minister of Transportation: as our government approaches the last month before break, what preparatory measures are under way for the pre-start-up of the new Department of Infrastructure in the Sahtu region? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Transportation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The proposed Department of Infrastructure, moving forward for 2017-18, is focusing on a number of things; change of management would be one of them, developing new business and processes and practices moving forward, and also establishing a new corporate presence, as it's going to be a whole different identity for the department. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Will the Minister elaborate a little bit on the staff recruitment plans?
Staff recruitment plans moving forward, I believe that with the reorganization of the departments there are a number of changes, there are a number of processes that have to be done moving forward before this is done until the budget is passed. Once the budget is passed and we implement these things moving forward, it will probably be no different than before when amalgamations take place. There will be a number of people either retiring or moving on to different departments. There are a number of people who are affected who will possibly be changing jobs within the departments and stuff. I can update the Members as we move forward.
That was leading up to my next question on progress reports and updates. I welcome the Minister's commitment to provide those reports on the progress during the transition. Maybe they can include, also, if there are any allowances for furniture for the new office there, please.
As we move forward, yes, there is some money there for implementation. For some of the new positions, I believe, that are created in the new region of the Sahtu, we will be looking out to fulfilling that.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
