Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Pudlat on December 2, 1993, about Public Works and Services maintenance positions in Sanikiluaq. The department has two positions in Sanikiluaq, a power plant operator/supervisor and a settlement maintainer.

The power plant operator/maintenance supervisor position in Sanikiluaq has been vacant for five months. The department is now operating the plant through contracted services. Responsibility for the operation of the Sanikiluaq power plant is scheduled to be transferred to the NWT Power Corporation in April, 1994. The NWT Power Corporation will be hiring a power plant operator who will be replacing the department's contracted services. The department did not want to staff a position that is scheduled to be transferred to another organization.

The settlement maintainer position has been vacant since the end of May, 1993. A Sanikiluaq resident was hired on a casual basis, for June and July. A plumber with the department, in Igloolik, handled maintenance responsibilities until mid-September. Since then, the department has contracted with a Sanikiluaq company, J T Ann Construction, for maintenance services. Two staffing competitions have been held. The first was unsuccessful. The second competition has just recently closed and the results should be known shortly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.