Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, during the last few months when we were going through the role and work that the GLOs were doing, the regions were well aware that some of the GLOs were carrying out, in fact, work on behalf of Social Services and perhaps other areas and not necessarily a job for the executive directorship. It's not something that was splashed upon the GLOs and they were not aware. Maybe there was an unbelieving state of mind but, at the same time, it was requested to see what these positions were doing and what type of workload there was. At the time of lay-off, we did not receive an alternative to what partial employment they could have in whatever department they were doing in carrying out some of this work. We were not able to determine in time to meet the schedule of lay-off to say exactly what it is that we could have offered up for the half-time position that they would be missing out of their daily job function. That is why the lay-off notices were given, because the answers to the questions, particularly from the Baffin, were not forthcoming. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask a supplementary. Who's responsibility was it to prepare alternative plans, such as have now been developed, prior to the time of lay-off? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, given that the GLO offices were in direct relationship to the Executive, it should

have been the regional director working in relationship with the respective department. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I'm sure the Premier doesn't want to make the regional directors responsible for her office. Since she's in charge of the Executive, I'd like to ask the Premier wasn't it your responsibility as Premier to have ensured that alternative plans were in place prior to a lay-off notice having been given and if the alternate plans weren't in place, to direct that the lay-off notices should not be given?

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, the Premier did attempt to get the procedures in place prior to notification of lay-off, working in conjunction with a person who works with my office known as a regional director. Also, given notice that we should be trying to coordinate, if necessary, the function so that they would be full-time functions. As a result, this did not happen and the procedures fell in place. Thank you.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Premier why should the employees suffer if the Department of the Executive couldn't get its act together to develop an alternative plan by a certain deadline? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.