Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question that was asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on March 3, 1995 regarding procedures for verifying GNWT candidates' credentials.

Mr. Speaker, for positions working with youth and other positions of trust, we ensure employees hired have a clear criminal record. Credentials are verified for certain professional positions such as nurses, lawyers and teachers. Job offers for these positions are conditional upon membership with the professional association. The association sets standards and verifies credentials for these positions. New employees are requested to provide a copy of credentials for their personnel file. If credentials are falsified, dismissal action is taken. If appropriate, other related action may be initiated.

The Department of Personnel is currently updating the staffing guidelines in the human resource manual. Verification of credentials for all positions, where appropriate, will be added. This section will include a detailed verification process for staffing officers to follow, prior to formalizing job offers.

I have a second return to questions asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on February 21, 1995 and February 23, 1995: Question 127-12(7), established public policy regarding procurement procedures and Question 152-12(7), economic policies regarding organizations and businesses.

Mr. Speaker, a response provided today to Written Question 8-12(7) asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on February 21, 1995, provides the information requested by these two questions. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Mr. Bill Norn, president of the Nuni Development Corporation from Fort Resolution. He is also a town counsellor. Sitting next to him was Euan Hunter, the mayor. He's not there right now, but I'll recognize him anyway.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize two people from my community, Letidia Apsaktaun and Catherine Kringorn.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's very difficult for people in the smaller communities, especially in the east, to come here. I have three constituents from the community of Baker Lake, one of whom is Susan Toolooktook, who I spoke of earlier this afternoon. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I've been informed by several honourable Members -- in case I didn't notice -- I would like to recognize and welcome back Mr. Ben MacDonald of the UNW. I understand yesterday he was attending an important meeting with the GNWT on employee assistance, so I'm prepared to excuse him for his absence from the House yesterday. Thank you.

---Laughter

---Applause

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to recognize Clifford Schaefer. Clifford used to live in Fort Providence.

---Applause

Okay, we'll take a break now until the bells sound.

---SHORT RECESS

The House will come back to order. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Finance who is responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat. It's regarding concerns raised about the affirmative action program. Early this year, this government formed a review committee to review the affirmative action program. I would like to ask the Minister the status of this review committee.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, the committee will soon commence consultation to see if the affirmative action program is and has been working and to look at what people from different areas of the Northwest Territories think about the program, with the objective of reporting back to the Financial Management Board the results of their survey and to make suggestions if there

need to be any changes to the affirmative action program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Can the Minister advise us who is on this review committee?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I will table that information in the House. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

I will be looking forward to finding out who is on the review committee. The Minister said the committee is going to begin their consultations. I would like to know who they are going to be consulting with.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, the committee will continue consulting with the original group they talked with late last year, with aboriginal organizations and also there will be some consultation by region with interested parties, whoever wants to make a presentation. Or if people want to send in briefs to us, they can do that as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.