Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask a new question to the Minister responsible for N.W.T.P.C. Last session, Mr. Speaker, it was brought to my attention that there were five lay-off notices granted to individuals in Fort Smith, and we were grateful that N.W.T.P.C. took it upon themselves to find these individuals employment and these lay-offs were avoided. However, Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about some of the safety in respect to the operation of N.W.T.P.C., particularly the safety that may be violated at the Taltson River Dam.

Mr. Speaker, at the dam, I know the Leader is fully aware that there is a fairly lengthy number of steps that go into this area where you check the power everyday, and recognizing that there is only one person out there who goes in to check these power services it is possible that an accident could happen. I would like to ask the Minister what measures are taken by N.W.T.P.C. to ensure that the safety regulations are not violated? Thank you.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I know after the accident that took place awhile ago, that the safety measures at the Taltson Dam have been increased and extra added training on safety measures was put into force, and I will be pleased to provide the Members with the list of safety precautions that were drawn up in this one-man working place. Thank you.

Oral questions, supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

I would like to ask the Minister if it is possible to provide the person with a radio so he can keep in contact with people. As you go down into the area of the plant as I said there must be at least 50 steps that you have to walk down into this area. It would be a good idea to have a phone system in the plant or in the house. Is it possible to provide a radio, because he is the only individual out at the site, totally in isolation, monitoring the power station out there. Thank you.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I will bring that suggestion to the attention of the Power Corporation. Thank you.

Oral questions, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Health. Mr. Speaker, and this speaks to the N.W.T. Health Care Association on September 21, the Minister of Health stressed the importance of planning and developing a framework for the provision of health services in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, surely these planned initiatives will take considerable resources and staff time. My question to the Minister is what resources and staff will be developed to support any planning initiatives undertaken by the department, or boards?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, there are substantial capital monies set aside in the current and proposed budgets of the Department of Health over the next couple of years, for these planning exercises. There is some $2 million, for example allocated for the Keewatin and Baffin regions for planning exercises, and other regions as well, Mr. Speaker.

There are substantial financial resources allocated to assist boards in planning health needs in collaboration with the department. As far as staff are concerned, Mr. Speaker, there is a dedicated capability within the Department of Health to assist with capital planning. There are a number of people who are experts in this field who will be available to do that work. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Todd.

Thank you. Can the Minister indicate whether this dedicated group within the department is being funded by internal resources, or is it going to require additional resources?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, the staff dedicated to capital planning within the Department of Health, are part of the existing establishment of the Department of Health. They are part of the base funding of the department, the base establishment. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Todd.

Since this planning initiative will be funded within existing resources, can the Minister indicate whether he has sought, or is seeking F.M.B. approval for the reorganization of this planning department within the department?

Mr. Patterson.

I have no plans to do so at the moment, Mr. Speaker. The department of course is considering its organization in anticipation of the amalgamation with the Department of Social Services. That is the big reorganizational agenda that is being considered at the moment, Mr. Speaker. Of course it will lead to reorganization in almost every aspect of the department's operation, including capital planning. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Education. During this Assembly, and many prior Assemblies this government keeps making commitments to enhance levels of aboriginal people, aboriginal employees in this government especially at management levels. It has been brought to my attention that just recently there were four appointments made, four senior staff appointments I think at the director level within the Department of Education, and none of them are aboriginal.

My question to the Minister is were these four appointments actually made?

Mr. Arvaluk.

Mr. Speaker, I have looked into this issue, because I was as curious as the Member was. The department has made some changes recently to honour some obligations and some temporary arrangements have been made, to fill vacancies resulting from secondments and absences due to education leave.

A director in the department was recently seconded to the Executive to participate in the consolidation exercise. To fill the temporary vacancy this created a senior federal public servant was loaned to this government, to manage the unit, to help us prepare for the possible transfer of the labour market development and training responsibilities from the federal government through the constitutional agreement.

The department has an obligation to reassign an employee returning from education leave next spring. So a recent vacancy was being temporarily filled on the acting basis until the employee returns. Another vacancy was recently filled by an educator returning from education leave whom the department was obligated to hire, as part of the terms of the education leave agreement.

The final appointment was made to honour a commitment to the divisional board to assign a director whom the board wished to replace.

Mr. Speaker, the department has not used these arrangements to avoid the competition process. The arrangements were part of the department's human resource plan and represented the best possible course of action to satisfy our legal obligations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral question. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.