Thank you. Mr. Voytilla.

Mr. Chairman, a lot of the functions of this position that will be performing in Hay River have been performed in Hay River before, but they have been done on an ad hoc arrangement. The consolidation of responsibility for carrying out these functions in the Hay River office does not take away from the responsibility or any of the staffing requirements in Fort Smith. It just formalizes some ad hoc arrangements that, frankly, have been in place for a number of years.

Thank you. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Chairman, for example, a personnel function such as hiring correctional workers for SMCC, South Mackenzie Correctional Centre, is being done and is generally done with a personnel officer from the Fort Smith office. It appears that the individual will now have the responsibility of either doing the responsibilities of a personnel officer. I am wondering whether this would be the case with respect to the responsibilities of this individual in fulfilling that particular person year?

Mr. Voytilla.

Mr. Chairman, the individual involved actually has a personnel background. The department has advised us that they feel that with some re-orientation and bringing this individual up to date with current practices, and with some direct supervision from the personnel out of Fort Smith, this individual could start to perform the range of personnel functions required in the Hay River office.

Thank you. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

That is the point I wanted to get to, Mr. Chairman. I expressed that grave concern at the standing committee on finance. First of all, there is no opportunity

given to any individuals that may be eligible under the affirmative action policy to be granted an opportunity to be considered for this position. You are taking a person that had background and knowledge of personnel, and are giving him this responsibility. You are retraining him and bringing him into a personnel field. I am concerned that there has been an oversight or lack of concerted effort by the department to want to look at, possibly, a native individual that may have the capabilities of performing in that position.

In respect to this particular individual, if I recall at the community level as the native leader, we played a fairly key function in trying to get that individual out of personnel because of the inconsistencies in the way policies were applied. I find that there has not been a concerted effort by anyone in the Department of Personnel to make sure that opportunity is given to native people to take on the responsibilities of the role and function of the personnel officer. I want the Minister and the Government Leader to be aware of this. By doing the transfer of this person and this position, they are making a totally wrong move. I am very concerned about it. I expressed this at the committee level, and I did indicate that I would express it in the House again today.

I would like to know what measures will be taken to try to avoid this type of situation. Here we are being asked to approve dollars of a PY that was never brought into the budget. Then, we are being asked to approve a procedure that does not even respect the policies that we have in place.

Thank you. Madam Government Leader.

Mr. Chairman, the Member's comments are duly noted. I will assure the Member that we will discuss the position. We will discuss the incumbent, and see where we can look to some measure of providing some security to the Member that this person will conduct the responsibilities, or the added responsibilities, in a manner that is consistent with our policies. I can assure the Member that we will try our utmost to track and monitor this particular position and person.

Thank you. Regional operations, not previously authorized, $9000 surplus. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Chairman, with your permission, can I go back to the Executive Council Secretariat?

What is the wish of the committee. Do you agree that we return to the Executive Council Secretariat? I would, if I could, get the concurrence of the Member to conclude regional operations, and then we could return to that particular item.

Agreed.

Regional Operations, Total O And M, Agreed

Regional operations, $9000 surplus, not previously authorized. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Revert To Executive Council Secretariat, Total O And M

Thank you. Executive Council Secretariat. Mr. Gargan, you had a question with regard to this particular matter.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My concern is with regard to the funding being provided to the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut. This is in the amount of $134,500 which is being given to them for a campaign on a "yes" vote on the plebiscite. I have no problem with that. What I have a problem with, Mr. Chairman, is that we do not have any moneys allocated for organizations that wanted to lobby on behalf of the "no" vote situation. So what you have here is a situation where some people are going to be at a disadvantage in regard to the process in which it has been applied.

Madam Government Leader.

Mr. Chairman, my understanding is that the Member was lodging a comment on a situation he feels exists. If the Minister of Aboriginal Rights wants to comment on it, I feel the comment would be more appropriately placed with him.

Mr. Minister.

Mr. Gargan.

Would the Executive Council Secretariat consider, if a request is being made, regardless of whether there is a campaign for a "yes" vote or "no" vote by other organizations?